SC · State trademark search
South Carolina trademark search & registration
One federal USPTO registration protects a South Carolina business nationwide, South Carolina included. Search live USPTO records below, then see how the Secretary of State runs the state’s own trademark register and when it’s actually worth using.
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Federal (USPTO) — start here
A federal registration, filed once through the USPTO, gives nationwide rights that include South Carolina. It’s the right starting point for almost any business selling across state lines, online, or planning to expand beyond South Carolina.
South Carolina state registration
South Carolina’s state trademark register is run by the Secretary of State — Trademarks/Business Filings. The published filing fee is $15 per class, with registrations renewing every 5 years. It only protects a mark within South Carolina’s borders, not nationwide — always confirm the current process and fee on the agency’s own page before filing.
When does a South Carolina state trademark make sense?
- Your business genuinely operates only within South Carolina — 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 South Carolina-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 a South Carolina filing (if used at all) is a complement to it rather than a substitute.
Other state trademark searches
- Oregon trademark search
- Pennsylvania trademark search
- Rhode Island trademark search
- South Dakota trademark search
- Tennessee trademark search
- Texas trademark search
See all states, or read how Brandmity trademark clearance works.