User Guide

Master TESS Search

Learn how to build structured, examiner-grade trademark searches — step by step. Wildcards, phonetic expansion, set operations, field codes, and everything else you need to search like a USPTO examining attorney.

Quick Start

Four steps from zero to a structured search session

1

Enter a Mark Name

Type a mark name with optional wildcards. For example, ZEBRA* finds ZEBRA, ZEBRAFISH, ZEBRAPRINT and more.

2

Add Filters

Narrow results by Nice class, Goods & Services keywords, date ranges, design codes, or filing basis.

3

Click Search

Each search becomes a numbered step in your session log, showing a human-readable description and raw TESS-style query.

4

Combine Steps with Set Operations

Use AND, OR, and NOT to combine steps. For example: 1 AND 3 finds the intersection, (2 4) OR 5 merges three steps.

Feature Deep Dives

Every search capability explained with examples

Wildcard Matching

Use * for zero or more characters and ? for exactly one character. Combine wildcards with field codes to search mark names, owner names, or goods descriptions.

*ZEBRA*[comb]

Phonetic Expansion

Generate character class patterns that find marks that sound like yours. The same substitution rules used by USPTO examining attorneys in real prosecution searches.

[scz][aeiouy]br[aeiouy]

Word Boundary / FM Match

Match a word within the mark using [comb:word], or require an exact full-mark match with [fm]. Useful for short marks that appear inside longer ones.

DURA[comb:word] DURA[fm]

Multi-Pattern OR

Group multiple values in parentheses to search for any of them in a single field. Works with classes, subclasses, design codes, and filing basis codes.

("009" "042")[ic]

Set Operations

Combine numbered steps with AND (intersection), OR (union), or NOT (difference). Compound expressions with parentheses work like X-Search.

1 AND 2 (3 6) AND 8

Date Range Filters

Filter by filing date [fd] or registration date [rd]. Use colon-separated ranges with YYYY-MM-DD format. Use * for open-ended ranges.

2023-01-01:2024-12-31[fd]

Nice Class + Coordinated

Filter by International Class with [ic], or expand to coordinated classes with [cc]. Coordinated classes find related goods/services that examiners compare.

"028"[ic] "028"[cc]

US Subclasses

Search by US classification subclasses. Group multiple subclass codes in parentheses to find marks in any of the specified subclasses.

("A" "B" "200")[us]

Design Search Codes

Find marks with specific design elements using six-digit USPTO design codes. Essential for logo and design mark clearance searches.

261713[dc]

Serial / Reg Lookup

Jump directly to a specific trademark by serial number [sn] or registration number [rn]. Useful for verifying citations or checking specific marks.

98915985[sn]

Filing Basis

Filter by trademark filing basis: 1a (use in commerce), 1b (intent to use), 44d (foreign registration), 44e (foreign application), or 66a (Madrid Protocol).

1b[cb]

Query Mode (Field Code Syntax)

Enter raw TESS-style queries directly using field code syntax. Combine multiple clauses with AND for precise, examiner-grade searches.

*aurora*[comb] AND "028"[ic]

Real Examiner Walkthrough

A complete search session modeled after real USPTO X-Search patterns

Session: NOVA — Class 009 Clearance Search

1
Mark starts with NOVA*2,001 results
nova*[comb] AND NOT dead[ld]

Sample results

99725264NOVACOREJian Kang Yi Jia (Shanghai) Technology Co., LtdLive
99719808NOVAFLUXPan,LiLive
99711403NOVARTANovArta Corp.Live
2
Phonetic: n[ou]v[aeiouy]15,030 results
CM:/n[ou]v[aeiouy]/

Sample results

99547593NUVAProvenance Blockchain Labs, Inc.Live
99024688NOVOTRANSOM POST OPCO, LLCLive
97694428NOVINOVI SPACE, INC.Registered
3
Class "009" (electronics)594,618 results
"009"[ic] AND NOT dead[ld]

Sample results

99663711NOVADragonfly Minds LLCLive
99655478NOVALINKNOVALINK TECHNOLOGIES LLCLive
99649306NOVAREGreenway Health, LLCLive
4
Steps 1 ∩ 3304 results
1 AND 3

Sample results

99684141NOVA KEYSWalter NovoselLive
99681403NOVA & BYTEA2 PublishingLive
99663711NOVADragonfly Minds LLCLive
5
Steps 2 ∩ 32,101 results
2 AND 3

Sample results

99547593NUVAProvenance Blockchain Labs, Inc.Live
99684141NOVA KEYSWalter NovoselLive
97694428NOVINOVI SPACE, INC.Registered
6
Steps 5 \ 41,797 results
5 NOT 4

Sample results

99547593NUVAProvenance Blockchain Labs, Inc.Live
99024688NOVOTRANSOM POST OPCO, LLCLive
97911724NOVEJAKE OHRegistered

This session demonstrates a typical examiner pattern: text search (Step 1), phonetic expansion to catch sound-alikes (Step 2), class filter (Step 3), intersect to narrow (Steps 4-5), then subtract (Step 6) to isolate the 1,797 marks like NUVA, NOVO, and NOVI that phonetic search found but text search missed.

Query Syntax Reference

Every supported field code, wildcard, and operator

CodeDescriptionExample
Mark Fields
[comb]Mark contains*aurora*[comb]
[comb:word]Exact word matchdura[comb:word]
[fm]Full mark (exact)DURA[fm]
Owner & Goods
[on]Owner name"APPLE INC."[on]
[gs]Goods & services"clothing"[gs]
Classification
[ic]International class"028"[ic] or ("009" "042")[ic]
[cc]Coordinated classes"006"[cc]
[us]US subclasses("A" "B" "200")[us]
[dc]Design codes261713[dc]
Numbers & Dates
[sn]Serial number98915985[sn]
[rn]Registration number5678901[rn]
[fd]Filing date range2023-01-01:2024-12-31[fd]
[rd]Registration date range*:2023-12-31[rd]
Filters
[ld]Live/Dead statusNOT dead[ld]
[st]Standard charactersstandard[st]
[rg]Register type"supplemental"[rg]
[md]Mark typeword[md]
[cb]Filing basis1b[cb] or (1a 1b)[cb]
Wildcards
*Zero or more charactersZEB* matches ZEBRA, ZEB
?Exactly one character?OG matches DOG, FOG, LOG
Operators
ANDBoth conditionsterm1[comb] AND "028"[ic]
NOTExcludeNOT dead[ld]
(...)Group values("009" "042")[ic]

Frequently Asked Questions

How is this different from the main search?

The main GleanMark search is optimized for quick lookups — type a name, get results. TESS Search is a structured, step-by-step workflow designed for clearance attorneys and examiners. Every search is a numbered step, and you combine steps with AND/OR/NOT set operations to build a comprehensive, auditable search record.

What are set operations?

Set operations let you combine numbered search steps. AND gives you the intersection (marks that appear in both steps), OR gives you the union (marks in either step), and NOT gives you the difference (marks in one step but not the other). Compound expressions like (3 6) AND 8 work the same way they did in TESS X-Search.

Can I save my search sessions?

Yes. Click Save in the session log header to name and save your session. You can load it later from the Load dialog, and your search steps will be re-executed with fresh results. Sessions are saved to your account, so they persist across browser tabs and devices.

What plans include TESS Search?

TESS Search is available on Professional plans ($249/seat/month) and above. All search fields, set operations, phonetic expansion, and the step log are included. The Max plan ($599–$699/seat/month) adds unlimited access.

How do phonetic patterns work?

Phonetic expansion uses character class substitutions — the same technique USPTO examining attorneys use. For example, letters that sound alike (S/C/Z, C/K/Q/X, G/J) are grouped into character classes like [scz] or [ckqx]. Vowels are grouped as [aeiouy] and similar-sounding consonant pairs as [td] and [ou]. Clicking the Phonetic button generates these patterns automatically for your mark name.

Can I use raw query syntax?

Yes. Switch to Query Mode and type TESS-style field code syntax directly — for example: *aurora*[comb] AND "028"[ic] AND NOT dead[ld]. The syntax reference on this page documents every supported field code.

Will my session persist if I close the tab?

Your in-progress session is kept in browser memory while the tab is open. To keep it permanently, click Save in the session log header. Saved sessions are stored in your account and can be loaded on any device. When you load a saved session, all search steps are re-executed so results are always current.

How do coordinated classes work?

Coordinated classes are groups of Nice classes that the USPTO considers related for likelihood-of-confusion analysis. When you search with [cc] instead of [ic], the system automatically expands your class to include all coordinated classes. For example, searching "025"[cc] (Clothing) also finds marks in classes like 035 (Retail) that examiners routinely compare.

Ready to Search Like an Examiner?

Put everything you learned into practice. Open TESS Search and start building structured search sessions.