DC · State trademark search
District of Columbia trademark search & registration
If your business is based in District of Columbia, trademark protection starts with a federal search — one USPTO registration covers District of Columbia along with every other state. Search below, then read on for how District of Columbia’s own state trademark register fits in.
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Federal (USPTO) — start here
A federal registration, filed once through the USPTO, gives nationwide rights that include District of Columbia. It’s the right starting point for almost any business selling across state lines, online, or planning to expand beyond District of Columbia.
District of Columbia state registration
Like most states, District of Columbia also runs its own trademark register, typically administered by the Secretary of State (or an equivalent state agency). It generally costs less and processes faster than a federal filing, but only protects the mark within District of Columbia — it does not stop someone from using or registering the same name in another state. Check District of Columbia’s Secretary of State site directly for its current process and fees.
When does a District of Columbia state trademark make sense?
- Your business genuinely operates only within District of Columbia — a local shop, restaurant or service business with no plans to sell out of state or online.
- You want fast, low-cost protection now while a federal intent-to-use application is still pending.
- You need to establish District of Columbia-specific priority for a name ahead of local competitors.
For most brands — especially anything sold online, as software, or shipped across state lines — federal registration is the stronger, more durable choice, and state registration (if used at all) is a complement to it rather than a substitute.