North Forge: DIY Common Law Trademark Search (For Startups)

This webinar will guide startups through the essential steps of conducting their own common law and global trademark searches before filing or launching a brand. Many early-stage companies skip this step, risking legal disputes, costly rebrands, or blocked funding. By learning how to identify unregistered trademarks, stealth brand usage, and global conflicts, founders can make informed, strategic decisions at the earliest stages of product development.

The session will focus on practical, easy-to-execute steps using free and widely available tools. It will also include a premium branding search step, which is often overlooked, to detect creative or stealth uses that haven’t yet been formally registered.

Featuring: Vandana Taxali, Lawyer, Art Agent, Tech Entrepreneur.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why registry searches (USPTO, CIPO, etc.) aren’t enough
• How to search Product Hunt, Behance, Crunchbase for stealth brand use
• Google and reverse image search strategies
• Domain and social handle availability checks
• Marketplace and app store brand usage scans
• Global registry tools: WIPO, TMview, EUIPO, USPTO, CIPO
• How to track findings and assess legal risk
• When to seek legal advice

Bonus: Get a free search checklist + documentation template to keep your search process on track and investor-ready.

REGISTER HERE