Many enterprises face a major concern when applying for trademarks: has their desired brand name already been registered by others? Failure to conduct thorough searches prior to application may lead to application rejection. What’s more, trademarks similar to existing prior rights may also bring about infringement risks.Today, we will walk you through practical operations on the WIPO Global Brand Database and help you quickly master trademark search methods.

I. Introduction to WIPO Global Brand Database

The WIPO Global Brand Database is a free online trademark search platform. It gathers trademark data from numerous countries and regions worldwide, as well as data of marks registered under the Madrid System for the International Registration of Marks. With this platform, you can check in advance whether a target brand has been registered, its registered jurisdictions, and the related goods and service classes.In short: always run a search here before filing a trademark application.

II. Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Access the Database

Official URL: https://branddb.wipo.int/zh

• Practice 1: Search by Trademark Name

Suppose you intend to register the brand name GREEN TEA. Enter the name in the search box. The system supports multiple matching modes:

• Containment search

• Exact match

• Fuzzy match

• Phonetic similarity

• Root word similarity

This function helps you identify trademarks with similar names.

• Practice 2: Search by Goods or Service Classes

Identical trademark names may be used across different industries. For example:

• Apple (electronic products)

• Apple (fruit sales)

They fall into different trademark classes. Therefore, it is recommended to add keywords of goods or services along with brand names, such as tea, or select the corresponding Nice Classification. This will deliver more accurate search results.

• Practice 3: Search by Graphic Logo

If your trademark consists of both text and a graphic logo, the image search function is highly useful. The WIPO Database allows you to upload images directly for similarity searches, with four available modes:

• Concept similarity

• Shape similarity

• Color similarity

• Combined similarity

It can locate trademarks with similar styles even if the graphics are not identical.

• Practice 4: Narrow Down Results with Filters

If excessive results are returned, use the filter panel on the left. Common filtering criteria include:

• Country/Region

• Trademark status

• Applicant/Registrant

• Expiry date

• Goods and service classes

Example filters:

• Valid trademarks in China

• Class 30 (Tea)

• Trademarks currently in force

• Practice 5: Combined Search for Professional Analysis

To conduct in-depth market research, you may combine multiple search criteria. For instance:

• Brand name containing "Tea"

• Goods class for tea products

• Applicants from Chinese enterprises

• Target countries: Japan, Singapore, South Korea

• Active trademark status

Combined filters enable you to quickly learn about trademark layouts in target markets.

Conclusion

Searching via the WIPO Global Brand Database provides strong technical support for cross-border enterprises to effectively identify risks and seize brand opportunities in the global marketplace. Proficient search skills, in-depth analysis and advance risk prevention are essential to ensure compliant brand expansion overseas and defend against malicious trademark squatting.We suggest enterprises complete international trademark layout before going global. You may cooperate with Zhuoxi Intellectual Property. We provide professional and multi-dimensional global trademark similarity checks and legal assessment, to fully prevent potential issues such as application rejection and infringement litigation overseas, and consolidate the intellectual property foundation for global brand development.Feel free to contact the professional team at Zhuoxi for inquiries about international trademark searches, overseas trademark registration, Madrid applications and global brand protection services.