Question 1

How does Imperium IP score trademark conflict risk?

Accepted Answer

Imperium IP uses a deterministic 0 to 100 scoring algorithm based on live USPTO data, weighted by NICE-class overlap. An exact live match in your class adds 35 points. Other live marks add up to 9 each, scaled by how close the name is and how close the class is (same class 100%, related classes 60%, unrelated 30%), up to 50 in total. Dead marks add up to 10, fading the longer they have been dead. Tiers are LOW (under 34), MEDIUM (34 to 66), and HIGH (67 and above). The algorithm is transparent and reproducible, so you always know why a mark scored the way it did.

Question 2

Is the trademark search free?

Accepted Answer

Yes. USPTO search, risk scoring, and conflict surfacing are free. Premium adds the downloadable Preliminary Trademark Report (a precursor to a full clearance opinion that you take to your attorney), mark monitoring with alerts, and saved workspaces.

Question 3

Does an Imperium IP report replace an attorney clearance opinion?

Accepted Answer

No. Imperium IP is decision-support only. Every report is a first-pass triage, not a clearance opinion. A licensed U.S. trademark attorney must evaluate before you file, invest, or adopt a mark. An automated knockout search cannot see common-law rights, unregistered use, or how an examining attorney will exercise judgment, so a clean result is not a clearance.

Question 4

Where does the trademark data come from?

Accepted Answer

Imperium IP pulls from the USPTO Trademark Status and Document Retrieval (TSDR) API and the USPTO Trademark Search (TMSEARCH) Elasticsearch index. All data shown is verified and time-stamped. Records update continuously at the USPTO, so reports reflect data available at the time of search.

Question 5

What does Live versus Dead mean for a trademark?

Accepted Answer

A live trademark is currently registered or pending at the USPTO and can be enforced by its owner. A dead trademark has been abandoned, cancelled, or expired and no longer carries USPTO protection, although common law rights may still exist. Imperium IP weights live marks more heavily in the Similarity Index.

Question 6

How much does it cost to register a U.S. trademark?

Accepted Answer

USPTO filing fees run approximately $250 to $350 per class of goods or services. Attorney fees vary widely. Imperium IP does not file trademarks. A registered trademark attorney should handle filing and clearance opinion.