The process of trademark registration in Texas begins with a clearance search that includes more than the USPTO. Common law trademark rights are based on use of a mark, even if it is not registered. A Texas barbecue shop might have used a name in Lubbock for 12 years without registering it, but that use gives them prior rights in that region that could affect a future federal registration. In a Texas trademark search, it’s common to search the USPTO’s TEAS, the Texas Secretary of State’s trademark registry, domain names, social media, and common law business listings. Failing to search any of these layers means missing conflicts the USPTO will discover during its search.
USPTO Texas trademark registration protects the entire footprint of a Texas company’s brand, not only in the state, but in all markets where the brand operates. For Texas energy services companies, whose corporate names and product brands are playing in national procurement markets, a registered trademark is a part of due diligence in large contracts. For Texas food and beverage brands with national distribution, a registered trademark is the certification that distributors and retailers require before signing supply contracts. For Texas technology firms seeking venture funding, a trademark registration is the IP asset that’s referenced in investor due diligence and assures investors the brand’s legal rights are secure. The first time is the charm, in the right classes with the right goods and services description is what united states trademark registrations and law (USTML’s) Texas trademark registration service provides.