IP Check

Overview

LaunchFast's IP Check helps you search the USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office) for registered patents and trademarks before you commit to a product. Verify your ideas are safe to launch and won't create legal problems down the road.

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How to Use IP Check

Follow this workflow to research patents and trademarks effectively:

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Patent Check

Patents protect how a product looks (Design Patents) or how it works (Utility Patents). Search the USPTO database by entering keywords that describe your product (e.g., "steering wheel cover", "phone mount", "yoga mat").

Patent Search Results Table

After entering your search, the results table displays comprehensive data for each patent.

Trademark Check

Trademarks protect brand names, logos, and phrases. Check for existing trademarks before finalizing your brand name or Amazon Brand Registry application. Enter your proposed brand name to search the USPTO database.

Exact Match Check

LaunchFast automatically runs an Exact Match Check that displays immediately at the top of the results, showing whether your exact search term is available or already registered as a trademark. This instant feedback helps you quickly determine if your first-choice brand name is safe to use.

Trademark Search Results Table

After entering your search, the results table displays comprehensive data for each trademark.

Select any trademark and click "Enhance" to view extended details. From there, click "Save" to add it to your Trademark Database for tracking.

Trademark Database

All saved trademarks appear here where you can review, compare, export, or delete them as your research progresses.

Save trademarks here when you need to:

• Track potential conflicts — Keep marks that might conflict with your brand in one place for ongoing monitoring
• Compare similar marks — Review multiple trademarks together to assess how crowded your brand space is
• Organize legal review — Gather marks that require attorney consultation before making final decisions
• Monitor competitors — Track trademark filings from competitors or established brands in your category
• Document research — Create a record of your trademark due diligence for business planning or funding conversations

Click "Export CSV" to download your saved trademarks with all details included.

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Key Things to Check

Patent Review

When reviewing patent search results, prioritize patents that:

1. Match your product's core features — If the title clearly describes your product's main feature and the type aligns (Design for appearance, Utility for functionality), review it carefully.

2. Are granted and recent — Granted patents are enforceable now. Most Utility patents last about 20 years from filing; Design patents last about 15 years from grant. Expired patents carry minimal risk.

3. Share classification codes — If CPC or USPC codes match your product category and the title is similar, prioritize that patent for review.

4. Belong to active enforcers — Well-known brands and direct competitors enforce their patents more actively. If you find a close match that's granted, recent, and clearly covers your product, consult a patent attorney for a freedom-to-operate review before placing orders.

Trademark Review

When evaluating trademark search results, consider:

1. Distinctive names win — Fanciful or arbitrary words (made-up words like "Kodak" or common words used in unrelated ways like "Apple" for computers) are stronger and safer than descriptive terms. Unique brand names clear faster and are easier to defend on Amazon.

2. Search variations — Check plurals, singulars, hyphens, spacing, phonetic equivalents ("lite" vs "light"), and misspellings to catch potential conflicts.

3. Relevant classes matter — Trademark conflicts matter most when marks cover similar Nice classes to yours. Review the goods and services descriptions carefully to see if they overlap with your product category.

4. Status and recency — LIVE marks, especially recent or actively used ones, carry higher risk. DEAD or abandoned marks aren't automatically safe—verify the reasons and dates before proceeding (see FAQ below).

5. Word vs. logo marks — Standard character marks (word marks) protect the text itself in any font or style. Stylized or logo marks only protect that specific visual design. Amazon Brand Registry typically requires a registered or eligible pending trademark covering your product categories.

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When to Get Professional Help

IP Check gives you the tools to conduct initial research, but it's not a substitute for legal advice. Consider consulting an intellectual property attorney when:

• You find a granted patent with a title and type that closely match your product
• Your proposed brand name returns an exact match or very similar trademarks in your product category
• A competing brand with a reputation for enforcement appears in your results
• You're planning significant investment in inventory, tooling, or marketing

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Next Steps

Ready to research your product's IP status? Here's what to do next: