State Trademarks

Differences Between State and Federal Trademarks

A trademark can be protected by state, federal, and/or common law.

Under common law, a trademark originates as soon as a symbol, word, or phrase is used in connection with a product or service. Protection under common law is limited, however, so it is usually beneficial to register a trademark with the state or federal government.

Registering a mark with the federal government yields more benefits than registering with a state agency, but the process for registering a mark federally is more more involved and expensive than that for state registrations. If a business is only being operated within one state, and there are no plans to expand the customer base beyond the boundaries of that state, one's needs may be fully satisfied with a state registration.

State Trademark Laws

U.S. State Trademark Laws and Databases from Gregory H. Guillot's "All About Trademarks" Web site provides links to all the state laws concerning trademarks.

State Trademark Registration and Forms

Here you will find information on registering trademarks in each of the fifty states and in the District of Columbia.

Alabama

Lands and Trademarks Division (Alabama Secretary of State)

Alaska

Filing an Alaska State Trademark (Alaska Dept. of Community & Economic Development)

Arizona

Tradenames and Trademarks (Arizona Secretary of State)

Arkansas

Search Trademarks (Arkansas Secretary of State)

California

Trademarks and Service Marks (California Secretary of State)

Colorado

Trademarks FAQs (Colorado Secretary of State)

Connecticut

Trade and Service Marks (Connecticut Secretary of State)

Delaware

Trademarks, Brands, and Labels (Delaware Trademark Act)

District of Columbia

Register a Business Trade Name (D.C. Government)

Florida

Trademark / Service Mark Registration [PDF] (Florida Department of State)

Georgia

Trademarks and Service Marks (Georgia Secretary of State)

Hawaii

Trade Name, Trade Mark, or Service Mark (Hawaii Dept. of Commerce & Consumer Affairs)

Idaho

Trademarks and Service Marks (Idaho Secretary of State)

Illinois

Trademark Publications and Forms (Illinois Secretary of State)

Indiana

Trademarks Information and Search (Indiana Secretary of State)

Iowa

Application for Registration of Mark [PDF] (Iowa Secretary of State)

Kansas

Trademark / Service Mark Registration [PDF] (Kansas Secretary of State)

Kentucky

Trademarks / Service Marks (Kentucky Secretary of State)

Louisiana

Application to Register Trademark [PDF] (Louisiana Secretary of State)

Maine

Marks and Trade Names (Maine Secretary of State)

Maryland

Trademarks and Service Marks (Maryland Secretary of State)

Massachusetts

About Trademarks and Service Marks (Massachusetts Secretary of State)

Michigan

Trademarks and Service Marks [PDF] (Michigan Dept. of Consumer & Industry Services)

Minnesota

Trade and Service Marks (Minnesota Secretary of State)

Mississippi

Application to Register/Renew Trade and Service Marks [PDF] (Mississippi Secretary of State)

Missouri

Trademarks and Service Marks (Missouri Secretary of State)

Montana

Application for Registration of Mark [PDF] (Montana Secretary of State)

Nebraska

Trademark / Service Mark Application [PDF] (Nebraska Secretary of State)

Nevada

Trademarks (Nevada Secretary of State)

New Hampshire

Trademark/ Service Mark Forms and Laws (New Hampshire Secretary of State)

New Jersey

Register / Renew State Trade and Service Marks (New Jersey Division of Revenue)

New Mexico

Trademarks and Service Marks (New Mexico Secretary of State)

New York

Trademark Forms and Instructions (New York Dept. of State)

North Carolina

Trademarks (North Carolina Secretary of State)

North Dakota

Trademark / Service Mark Registration (North Dakota Secretary of State)

Ohio

Trademarks / Service Marks (Ohio Secretary of State)

Oklahoma

Trademark (Oklahoma Secretary of State)

Oregon

Trade and Service Marks - Registration [PDF] (Oregon Secretary of State)

Pennsylvania

Registration of a Trademark (Pennsylvania Department of State)

Rhode Island

Trademark / Service Mark Section (Rhode Island Secretary of State)

South Carolina

Trademarks (South Carolina Secretary of State)

Tennessee

Trademarks (Tennessee Department of State)

Texas

Trademark Forms (Texas Secretary of State)

Utah

Trademark (Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code)

Vermont

Trademarks (Vermont Secretary of State)

Virginia

Trademarks and Service Marks Registered in Virginia (Virginia State Corporation Commission)

Washington

Trademark Registration / Renewal [PDF] (Washington Secretary of State)

West Virginia

Trademarks and Service Marks (West Virginia Secretary of State)

Wisconsin

Trade Names and Trademarks (Wisconsin Secretary of State)

Wyoming

Trademarks (Wyoming Secretary of State)