FAQ's

Question
Do I have to use all of BOB’s suggestions for the name I entered?
Answer
No. You can select the suggestions you want to include in your search by unchecking the box next to the suggestion you do not want to use.
Question
Can I add to BOB’s suggestions?
Answer
Yes. You can add to BOB’s suggestions by entering words or word parts in Column B or if the name is an abbreviation, nickname, or acronym, the full text of the name in Column C.
Question
What does the thumbs up symbol mean next to a goods or services description?
Answer
It is preferable to use a broad goods or services description rather than a narrow description in a trademark search. The thumbs up symbol identifies a description that may be preferable to use in your search.
Question
Do I have to use a goods or services description from the list suggested by BOB?
Answer
No. You can use the description you entered in your search. However, using a description suggested by BOB will allow your search to analyze the relatedness of goods or services likelihood of confusion factor.
Question
Do I have to use all of the International Class numbers identified by BOB?
Answer
No. You can delete or add to the International Class numbers suggested by BOB.
Question
What are the available International Class numbers?
Answer
International Class numbers are part of a system used by Global Trademark Offices to classify the millions of trademark applications filed each year. You can learn about the available International Class numbers by clicking HERE.
Question
What is the best way to review my trademark search results when the results include a lot of records?
Answer
Every column in BOB’s search report can be filtered. Excel’s filter option is extremely flexible and allows you to customize the filter that works best with your mark. Here is a suggested strategy for quickly moving through a large number of search results:
- 1) Filter the Mark column (Column B) for names that begin with the first 3 letters of the mark you searched.
- 2) With the results filtered, set the “Risk Level” (Column D) as High, Medium, or Low for any concerning marks.
- 3) Clear the filter for the Mark column (Column B) and filter the Goods/Services column (Column F) for descriptions containing words that correspond to the goods or services description you entered in your free text description.
- 4) With the results filtered, set the “Risk Level” (Column D) as High, Medium, or Low for any concerning marks.
- 5) Clear the filter for the Goods/Services column (Column F) and then filter the Risk Level column (Column D) for any records you tagged as High, Medium, or Low.
- 6) Review the filtered results from Column D a second time to evaluate if the Risk Level for any given record is appropriate.
Question
How do I use Excel’s filter option?
Answer
Click on the down arrow that appears in every column. Clicking the down arrow icon will bring up Excel’s filter menu options. Use the “Text Filter” options to filter the results. You can learn more about Excel’s filter capabilities by clicking Here.
Question
What does Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, Level 4, and Level 5 mean in the search results?
Answer
The levels categorize the variables used in the search by BOB. The lower the Level reported by BOB, the higher the probability that the searched mark may face issues at the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Here are the Levels explained:
- 1) Level 1: BOB is looking for Identical Marks and Identical Goods or Services.
- 2) Level 2: BOB is looking for Identical Marks and Related Goods or Services.
- 3) Level 3: BOB is looking for Similar Marks and Identical Goods or Services.
- 4) Level 4: BOB is looking for Similar Marks and Related Goods or Services
- 5) Level 5: BOB is looking for Identical or Similar Marks in the International Class Numbers entered by you. Level 5 is intended to be the catchall.
Question
How do I conduct an International trademark search?
Answer
After you conclude that a name appears to be available in the United States, you can determine if the name is available in foreign countries for free using the WIPO Global Brand Database or TM View Database. Here is a suggested strategy for using the WIPO Global Brand Database:
- 1) In the “Text Field”, enter the name you want to search and, in the drop-down menu, select “Fuzzy.”
- 2) Click on the “Class” tab and in the “Goods/Services Class (Nice)” field enter the International Class numbers you used with BOB.
- 3) Click on the “Country” tab and in the “Origin” field enter the foreign countries you want to search in.
- 4) Click “Search”.
- 5) The search results can be filtered by several variables. Check the filters under “Source” and “Origin” for the countries and “Status” for active and inactive records.

The following suggested tips are intended to help you get the most out of your preliminary search.

If your proposed mark can logically be broken into two or more pieces, it is better to use BOB’s component search option. For example, “CALIBURGER” has two components “CALI” and “BURGER.” “D’AMICO & SONS” has two components “D’AMICO” and “SONS.” “KNOCKOUT THE PAIN” has two components “KNOCKOUT” and “PAIN.”
If your proposed mark contains a word that describes the goods or services you offer or intend to offer, consider leaving that term out of your search. For example, assume the mark is BRIDGEWATER BANK for “banking services.” The term BANK describes “banking services; therefore, you will receive more accurate search results by focussing on the BRIDGEWATER portion and leaving the BANK term out of the search.
If your proposed mark is or contains a nickname, acronym, or abbreviation, it is better to use BOB’s nickname, acronym, or abbreviation search option. For example, IPS is the acronym for INCREDIBLE PROTEIN SNACKS and CALI is the known abbreviation for CALIFORNIA. Enter INCREDIBLE PROTEIN SNACKS or CALIFORNIA in the box where BOB asks for the long form of your proposed mark.
It is better to use a broad goods or services description than a narrow one. For example, if you offer “Japanese restaurant services” search for only “restaurant services.” If you offer “medical devices for treating pulmonary disease” search for only “medical devices.” If you offer “computer software for managing mobile devices and networks,” search for only “computer software.”
Review the individual records in the search results to see if the detailed goods or services descriptions are like your goods or services. If they are like your goods or services, rethink adopting that mark or consult with a trademark attorney about it.
Search Google for any identical marks located in your geographic area.

The following suggested keys are intended to help you get the most out of your preliminary search.

Truncation Operators Language:

Symbol	Meaning
$	Unlimited, non-space characters
$$	Unlimited, space and non-space characters
$N	Where N = 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 non-space characters
?	Single, non-space character

Logical Operators Language:

Operator	Meaning
AND	Both words on either side of the operator appear in the same record.
OR	At least one of the terms on either side of the operator appears in a record.
NOT	Find all records containing the first term but which do not contain the second.
XOR	One of the terms on either side of the operator appears in a record, but not both.
Parentheses should be used to surround terms that are connected by operators for further limitation by a subsequent operator.

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