WA · State trademark search
Washington trademark search & registration
If your business is based in Washington, trademark protection starts with a federal search — one USPTO registration covers Washington along with every other state. Search below, then read on for how Washington’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 Washington. It’s the right starting point for almost any business selling across state lines, online, or planning to expand beyond Washington.
Washington state registration
Like most states, Washington 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 Washington — it does not stop someone from using or registering the same name in another state. Check Washington’s Secretary of State site directly for its current process and fees.
When does a Washington state trademark make sense?
- Your business genuinely operates only within Washington — 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 Washington-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.