Performing an advanced search

Use the advanced search to search within EUIPO's databases for information on published trade marks, designs, owners, representatives and Office decisions. Daily publications (Bulletins) can also be downloaded in the advanced search section.

An advanced search enables you to carry out a detailed search for each individual group (trade mark, design, etc.) using a multitude of search criteria. Use this function to get more specific search results. You can customise each search to look for specific words, for words or phrases containing a specific string of characters, for phrases including some words but excluding others, for strings containing wild cards, etc.

• Advanced search criteria

  The advanced search option allows you to refine your search.

  The default search criteria for the advanced search feature are displayed on the grey panel on the right-hand side of the interface. On the left-hand side is a list of additional search criteria that can be added to the search options.

  Adding search criteria
  Add search criteria to your request by clicking on the option(s) listed on the left-hand side of the screen. The new option(s) will be displayed at the bottom of the list of search criteria.

  Removing search criteria
  To remove search criteria from the list, click on the cross icon next to the option(s) you want to remove.

  

  To clear data entered in a field(s) and reset the 'conditional search operator(s)' to the default setting, click on the 'Clear criteria' button at the bottom of the page.

  To reset to the default search criteria click on the 'Reset to default' button below the list of search criteria.

• Conditional search operators

  The 'conditional search operators' (and, or, not) enable you to refine a search across various fields. They are organised as follows:

  • and – used when including additional terms in a search
  • or – used to provide alternative terms in a search
  • not – used to exclude specific terms in a search

  Conditional search operators only apply to search criteria on the same line as the search operator.

• Search-string rule drop-down menus

  To narrow your results, complement each search field you fill in (string search) with a rule you can select in the drop-down menus (contains, is, starts with, ends with).

  

  Select the rule that is most appropriate to your search string. For example, if you use the search string ‘nut' the results displayed will change according to the rule applied

  • is – only exact matches are displayed (‘nut')
  • contains – all results containing the text string nut are displayed, regardless of its position in the text string, e.g. 'minute'.
  • starts with – all results containing a text string that starts with nut are displayed, e.g. 'nutshell'.
  • ends with – all results containing a text string that ends with ‘nut' are displayed, e.g. ‘donut'r s

  Vienna Classification text field
  This field is an option that can be found under the Trade marks and Designs tabs.

  When filling in this field, an autocomplete feature facilitates your search for the relevant classes or subclasses of the Vienna Classification for figurative elements by listing suggestions.

  Clicking on the asterisk (*) opens the EUIPO's Figurative Classification Manual in PDF format.

  N.B.: The Vienna Classification is entered for Registered Community designs (RCDs) in the following Locarno classes: 01.01, 05.05, 09.01, 09.03, 19.04, 19.08 and 32.00. Class 99.00 has not been used for applications since 01/01/2009 (with the entry into force of the ninth edition of Locarno) but still exists for applications prior to that date.

  Locarno Classification text field
  This field is an option that can be found under the Designs tab.

  When filling in this field, an autocomplete feature facilitates your search for the relevant class of the Locarno Classification for the goods concerned by listing suggestions.

  Clicking on the asterisk (*) opens a search tool called DesignClass that contains extended product indications accepted in all European Union Intellectual Property Offices.

  More information on the Locarno Classification.

• Search text options

  The search text field uses the following conventions:

  • 'Text' is defined as any alphanumeric character. Any character can be typed in the text field. However, the asterisk (*), question mark (?) and double quotation marks (" ") are special wild-card characters with specific functions. To find out more, see the section on wild-card characters.
  • The text field is case-insensitive, i.e. typing 'coke' or 'Coke' will return the same results.
  • The search system is insensitive to special characters, i.e. typing 'Müller' returns the same results as typing 'Muller'.
  • The wild-card characters (*) or (?) are permitted anywhere in a search string and can be used where one or more characters are unknown.
• Wild-card characters

  A wild-card character can be used to substitute another character or a string of characters.

  Question mark (?)
  This substitutes a single unknown character.

  For example: if you type compl?ment, the search results returned will include both complement and compliment.

  You can enter multiple question marks in a search string.

  N.B.: A question mark does not replace a space (unlike the asterisk).

  Asterisk (*)
  This substitutes one or more unknown characters (including spaces).

  For example: if you type compl*ment, the search results returned will include both compliment and C omplete Management.

  You can use the asterisk in conjunction with a question mark in a search string.

  For example: typing *1?3 will return 123 and Farmacia +123.

  Set of double quotation marks (" ")
  Enclosing a word or phrase in double quotation marks restricts the search to only the characters enclosed within those quotation marks.

  For example: typing "Hello" will return Hello.