You can search the trade mark database with or without using search operators. Without search operators, the search engine will only find identical terms.

After you have entered your search term or terms into the search field and started the search, the following fields will be searched for matches:

1. Trade mark titles
2. Word elements of word/figurative marks
3. Trade mark numbers
4. Application numbers
5. Owner
6. Representative
7. Goods and services

You will obtain results if the character string found matches what you typed exactly. For example, if you search for photo, it will only find results for the word photo and not photos, photograph or photographer. To search for alternative spellings or similar terms, please use the advanced search options.

If you enter several search terms, the search results will contain at least one of these terms (default operator OR).

The search engine does not differentiate between upper and lower case letters.

Umlauts (ä, ö, ü) and other accents (e.g. à, ô, ç) are not taken into account by the search engine. This is also the case if you use double quotation marks to search for exact word sequences. It therefore does not matter if you type umlauts or accents – a search for schön or schon will produce the same results. You cannot, however, use ae, oe or ue in place of ä, ö or ü.

The search engine does not recognise special characters. This includes the characters +  -   /  & !  (  ). Full stops and commas are recognised.

Because special characters function like spaces, the character sequences before and after a special character (e.g. PC-Doctor) are treated like separate terms (search for PC and Doctor). Therefore, please place search terms with special characters in double quotation marks –

"pc-doctor".