{"id":5053,"date":"2016-04-04T10:47:54","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:47:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/smallbusiness\/intellectual-property\/state-trademark-information.html"},"modified":"2024-05-22T02:15:03","modified_gmt":"2024-05-22T07:15:03","slug":"state-trademark-information","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/intellectual-property\/state-trademark-information.html","title":{"rendered":"A Guide to State Trademark Information"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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A Guide to State Trademark Information<\/h1>\n
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\n By Taylar-Simone McCants, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Amber Sheppard, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
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Editorial Note: We earn a commission from affiliate partner links on FindLaw. Commissions do not affect the editorial integrity of our legal content.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n \n

\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

As a small-business owner, protecting your business name is one of the most important steps in the long-term success of your company. Although common law rights are automatically given through the use of the mark in commerce, these rights are limited to the geographic areas where the mark is in use.<\/p>\r\n

Most entrepreneurs find out about federal trademark registration with the\u00a0United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)<\/a>\u00a0and stop there. Yet, having a registered trademark on the state level is also beneficial.<\/p>\r\n

You can find trademark protection information for all 50 states and Washington, D.C., in the table below. This includes details on registering a trademark in your state. Registering will let others know you have exclusive rights to the mark.<\/p>\r\n

For a step-by-step guide to applying for federal trademark registration, see\u00a0Registering a Trademark<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
State<\/th>\r\nWhere to Apply for State Trademark Protection<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>
Alabama<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Trademark Application<\/a>
\r\n(Alabama Secretary of State)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Alaska<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Filing an Alaska State Trademark\u00a0<\/a>
\r\n(Alaska Dept. of Commerce, Community, & Economic Development)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Arizona<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Trade Names and Trademarks<\/a>\u00a0
\r\n(Arizona Secretary of State)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Arkansas<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Trademark\/Service Mark<\/a>\u00a0
\r\n(Arkansas Secretary of State)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
California<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Trademarks and Service Marks<\/a>\u00a0
\r\n(California Secretary of State)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Colorado<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Trademarks FAQs<\/a>\u00a0
\r\n(Colorado Secretary of State)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Connecticut<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Trade and Service Mark FAQ<\/a>\u00a0
\r\n(Connecticut Secretary of State)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Delaware<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Trademarks, Brands, and Labels\u00a0<\/a>
\r\n(Delaware Division of Corporations)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
District of Columbia<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Reserve or Register a Trade Name<\/a>\u00a0
\r\n(D.C. Government)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Florida<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Trademark\/Service Mark Forms<\/a>\u00a0
\r\n(Florida Department of State)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Georgia<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Trademarks and Service Marks<\/a>\u00a0
\r\n(Georgia Secretary of State)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Hawaii<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Trade Name, Trademark, or Service Mark<\/a>\u00a0
\r\n(Hawaii Dept. of Commerce & Consumer Affairs)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Idaho<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Trademarks and Service Marks<\/a>\u00a0
\r\n(Idaho Secretary of State)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Illinois<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Trademark Publications and Forms<\/a>\u00a0
\r\n(Illinois Secretary of State)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Indiana<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Trademarks Information and Search<\/a>\u00a0
\r\n(Indiana Secretary of State)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Iowa<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Application for Registration of Mark<\/a>\u00a0
\r\n(Iowa Secretary of State)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Kansas<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Trademark\/Service Mark Registration FAQ\u00a0<\/a>
\r\n(Kansas Secretary of State)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Kentucky<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Trademarks\/Service Marks<\/a>\u00a0
\r\n(Kentucky Secretary of State)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Louisiana<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Application to Register Trade Name, Trademark, or Service Mark<\/a>\u00a0
\r\n(Louisiana Secretary of State)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Maine<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Marks and Trade Names<\/a>\u00a0
\r\n(Maine Secretary of State)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Maryland<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Trademarks and Service Marks<\/a>
\r\n(Maryland Secretary of State)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Massachusetts<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Trademark and Service Marks<\/a>\u00a0
\r\n(Massachusetts Secretary of State)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Michigan<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Trademarks, Service Marks, and Insignia<\/a>\u00a0
\r\n(Michigan Dept. of Consumer & Industry Services)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Minnesota<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Trade and Service Marks<\/a>\u00a0
\r\n(Minnesota Secretary of State)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Mississippi<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Application to Register\/Renew Trade and Service Marks\u00a0<\/a>
\r\n(Mississippi Secretary of State)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Missouri<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Trademarks and Service Marks<\/a>\u00a0
\r\n(Missouri Secretary of State)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Montana<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Trademarks<\/a>\u00a0
\r\n(Montana Secretary of State)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Nebraska<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Trademark\/Service Mark Application<\/a>\u00a0
\r\n(Nebraska Secretary of State)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Nevada<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Mark Forms<\/a>\u00a0
\r\n(Nevada Secretary of State)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
New Hampshire<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Trademark – Service Mark Forms and\u00a0<\/a>Laws
\r\n(New Hampshire Secretary of State)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
New Jersey<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Register\/Renew State Trade and Service Marks<\/a>\u00a0
\r\n(New Jersey Division of Revenue)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
New Mexico<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Trademarks and Service Marks<\/a>\u00a0
\r\n(New Mexico Secretary of State)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
New York<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Original Trademark Registration Form<\/a>\u00a0
\r\n(New York Dept. of State)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
North Carolina<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Trademarks<\/a>\u00a0
\r\n(North Carolina Secretary of State)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
North Dakota<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Trademark\/Service Mark Registration\u00a0<\/a>
\r\n(North Dakota Secretary of State)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Ohio<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Trademarks or Service Marks<\/a>\u00a0
\r\n(Ohio Secretary of State)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Oklahoma<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Trademark<\/a>\u00a0
\r\n(Oklahoma Secretary of State)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Oregon<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Business Names and Trademarks<\/a>\u00a0
\r\n(Oregon Secretary of State)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Pennsylvania<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Registration of a Trademark<\/a>\u00a0
\r\n(Pennsylvania Department of State)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Rhode Island<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Trademark \/ Service Mark Section<\/a>\u00a0
\r\n(Rhode Island Secretary of State)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
South Carolina<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Trademarks<\/a>\u00a0
\r\n(South Carolina Secretary of State)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
South Dakota<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Trademarks\u00a0<\/a>
\r\n(South Dakota Secretary of State)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Tennessee<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Trademarks<\/a>\u00a0
\r\n(Tennessee Department of State)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Texas<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Trademark Forms<\/a>\u00a0
\r\n(Texas Secretary of State)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Utah<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Trademark\u00a0<\/a>
\r\n(Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Vermont<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Trademarks\u00a0<\/a>
\r\n(Vermont Secretary of State)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Virginia<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Trademark, Service Mark Registration<\/a>\u00a0
\r\n(Virginia State Corporation Commission)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Washington<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Trademark Registration<\/a>\u00a0
\r\n(Washington Secretary of State)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
West Virginia<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Trademarks and Service Marks<\/a>\u00a0
\r\n(West Virginia Secretary of State)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Wisconsin<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Trade Names and Trademarks<\/a>\u00a0
\r\n(Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Wyoming<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Trademarks\u00a0<\/a>
\r\n(Wyoming Secretary of State)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Puerto Rico<\/th>\r\n\u00a0Trademarks and Trade Name<\/a>
\r\n(Puerto Rico Trademark Office)<\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\r\n

State Trademark vs. Federal Trademark Registration<\/h2>\r\n

Trademarks at both the state and federal levels still protect the same things, such as:<\/p>\r\n