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Lesson 2: Search Basics
The Trade-marks Database search system is a very flexible, yet powerful tool that
can be used in many ways to meet your particular requirements. You
can perform simple searches or you can perform very complex searches.
In this section we will cover the following:
Trade-mark Records and their Data Categories
Performing a Basic Search
Using Wildcards to Enhance Searches
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A trade-mark record captures critical data about a trade-mark
registrant and the registration steps, along with dates,
company information and more. Click on the thumbnail to see an example.
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Below are data categories found on trade-mark records:
| Numbers |
An application number is assigned when the
trade-mark process begins and a registration number is
assigned when it is registered |
| Status |
The current status of the trade-mark |
| Dates |
Record of when the trade-mark
was first filed, formalized, advertised, registered, inactivated |
| Contact Information |
Names and addresses of both the owner and
their representatives for service and legal counsel |
| Trade-mark Information |
Text and/or image of the trade-mark and descriptions including
description of the trade-mark design |
| Wares and/or Services |
Description of the wares/services that the business offers |
| Additional Information |
Further information such as claims, associated
trade-marks, and footnotes |
| Action |
A record of the trade-mark process including relevant dates |
For a more detailed description of each data category see the
"Searchable
Fields" section of the database Help file.
| 1 |
To go to the Trade-marks Database, click on the "Trade-marks
Database" tab in the left navigation.
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| 2 |
Go to Search Box 1 and enter the text you want to search for in the
"Enter search text" field.
Ignore the "Select search field" option and Searches 2 to 5 for now.
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| 3 |
Click on the "Search" button and then view your results.
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Wildcards are characters that the search engine recognizes. They add
flexibility to your searches:
| * |
Use an asterisk to replace a sequence of characters (e.g. to search
for pharmacy and pharmaceutical, use "pharm*"). |
| ? |
Use a question mark to replace a single character (e.g. "organi?ation"
will match different spellings: "organization" or
"organisation"). |
Wildcards can be used in multiple search terms (e.g. Canad*, Gov*).
Wildcards can also be used in front of the search term (e.g. "*national"
will match different terms such as "national", "international").
For more detailed information on wildcards see the
"Truncation
and Wildcard Characters" section of the database Help file.
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