This site uses Javascript to help ensure that the page looks its best when viewed with the most common graphical browsers. If your browser does not support Javascript or if you have turned off the Javascript all of the content and features of the page will still be available but the page may not look exactly as the designers intended.
Canadian Intellectual Property Office Symbol of the Government of Canada
Skip all menus Skip first menu
Français Contact Us Help Search Canada Site
Strategis Site Map What's New About Us Registration
Go to CIPO Home
IP Toolkit Main Page
About Intellectual Property
Using Intellectual Property (IP) in Business
Types of Intellectual Property (IP)
Legal Issues
How To ...
Obtain Intellectual Property (IP) Protection
Perform Searches
In my area of interest
For similar technologies
For competitors or potential partners
To discover new markets
Leverage Financing
Find Resources
IP Toolkit
Tool List Glossary Links Bibliography
Trade-Marks Database Tutorial
Put the trade-marks database to work for your business!
Back to start Lesson 1: TM in Business Lesson 2: Search Basics Lesson 3: Refining Searches Lesson 4: Search Options Lesson 5: Logo Searches Lesson 6: Sample Searches

Lesson 3: Refining Searches

If you've searched for a term and the database has returned hundreds of results, you will want to refine your search so that you can find the "needle in the haystack." In this section we will cover the following:

Using Search Field Options
Searching with Multiple Criteria


Using Search Field Options

Using the "Select search field" drop-down menu, you can search in specific fields.

Select search field

Select the option by which you wish to search.

Select the option by which you wish to search.

Use the fields for the following reasons:

Select this field:For this reason:
Trade-mark Lookup (Default)To search by all of the following fields: Trade-mark, Trade-mark description, Foreign character translation and Index Headings
Application NumberTo search by the application number
Registration NumberTo search by the registration number
Current Owner NameTo search by the current owner's name
Old Owner NameTo search by an old owner's name
Old and Current Owner NameTo search by all owners
Trade-markTo search by words, numerals or letters in the trade-mark
Trade-mark DescriptionTo search by a description of the trade-mark
Foreign Character Translation/TransliterationTo search trade-marks containing foreign characters
Index HeadingTo search by trade-mark word component
WaresTo search by product(s) (wares) associated with a trade-mark
ServicesTo search by service(s) associated with a trade-mark
Wares and ServicesTo search by both product(s) and
service(s)
DisclaimerTo search by a portion of a trade-mark that is disclaimed
Vienna CodesTo search by the design of a trade-mark according to its Vienna code number
Vienna Codes DescriptionTo search by the description of a trade-mark's design elements

See the "Searchable Fields" section of the database Help file for detailed explanations of each search field option.


Searching with Multiple Criteria

By now you've noticed that there are five possible search boxes on the Trade-marks Database search page. To refine a search, you can combine up to five different criteria when performing a single search.

An "operator" is used to tell the search engine how to combine the different criteria. There are three types of operators: "AND, OR, BUT NOT"

Searches 2-5 have an option to select an "operator."

Select an operator

When entering multiple search criteria, select an operator based on the result you need:

AND Both search criteria will be included. (e.g. "red AND apple" will locate documents containing both these words)
OR At least one of the search criteria will be included. (e.g. "red OR apple" will locate all documents containing at least one of these words)
BUT NOT Excludes words or phrases.(e.g. "red BUT NOT apple" will locate documents that contain the word "red" but will exclude all documents containing the word "apple")

Go to Lesson 4

Last Modified: 2005-09-26

Top of Page

Important Notices