API Overview

The Signa API is the developer-first platform for searching, analyzing, and monitoring trademarks across multiple trademark offices worldwide.

Base URL

https://api.signa.so

All endpoints are versioned with the /v1 prefix. We maintain backward compatibility within major versions.

What Makes Us Different

Unified Search

Search across USPTO, EUIPO, UKIPO, and WIPO with a single API call. No need to integrate with multiple trademark offices.

AI-Powered Analysis

Get intelligent risk assessments, class suggestions, and clearance recommendations powered by AI.

Normalized Data

Consistent data structure across all trademark offices. No more dealing with different formats.

Cross-Office Tracking

Track trademark families across jurisdictions with canonical IDs.

Core Capabilities

🔍 Search & Discovery

Text Search

GET /v1/trademarks/searchSearch by text with multiple filtering options.

Image Search

POST /v1/trademarks/search/imageFind visually similar logos and design marks.

🤖 AI-Powered Analysis

Conflict Check

POST /v1/analysis/checkQuick trademark conflict detection. Results in 300-800ms.

Clearance Search

POST /v1/analysis/clearanceDeep AI analysis with risk scoring and recommendations.

Class Suggestion

POST /v1/analysis/classifyAI-powered Nice class classification for your products.

📊 Lookup & Monitoring

Trademark Lookup

GET /v1/trademarks/{id}Get detailed information for a specific trademark.

Owner Search

GET /v1/owners/searchSearch and analyze trademark owners and their portfolios.

Monitoring & Webhooks

POST /v1/monitorsReal-time alerts for new filings and status changes.

Supported Trademark Offices

Office Code	Name	Coverage	Trademarks
USPTO	United States Patent and Trademark Office	United States	3.5M+
EUIPO	European Union Intellectual Property Office	27 EU countries	2M+
UKIPO	UK Intellectual Property Office	United Kingdom	500K+
WIPO	World Intellectual Property Organization	130+ countries (Madrid Protocol)	1.5M+

Search across all offices simultaneously, or filter by specific offices.

Authentication

All requests require an API key in the Authorization header:

curl -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  https://api.signa.so/v1/search?q=apple

Generate your API key from the dashboard. See Authentication Guide for details.

Request & Response Format

The API uses JSON for request and response bodies:

Content-Type: application/json
Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY

Main Search Endpoint

Unified Search

GET /v1/search?q={query}&search_type={type}&office={office}

Search Types:

exact - Direct text matching (default, fastest)
fuzzy - Typo-tolerant matching
phonetic - Sound-alike matching

Example Request:

curl "https://api.signa.so/v1/search?q=apple&office=USPTO&classes=9,35" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"

Example Response:

{
  "results": [
    {
      "id": "tm_us_1234567",
      "canonical_id": "tm_canonical_apple_001",
      "office": {
        "code": "USPTO",
        "name": "United States Patent and Trademark Office",
        "country": "US"
      },
      "office_data": {
        "registration_number": "1078312",
        "serial_number": "73222079"
      },
      "mark": {
        "text": "APPLE",
        "type": "word"
      },
      "status": {
        "unified_status": "live_registered",
        "unified_status_code": "LR",
        "office_status": "Registered",
        "status_date": "1985-05-14"
      },
      "classifications": {
        "nice_classes": [9, 35, 42],
        "goods_services": "Computers; Computer software; Retail services"
      },
      "owners": [
        {
          "name": "Apple Inc.",
          "type": "corporation",
          "country": "US",
          "role": "owner"
        }
      ],
      "dates": {
        "filing_date": "1981-09-04",
        "registration_date": "1985-05-14"
      },
      "images": {
        "thumbnail": "https://cdn.signa.so/marks/us/1234567/thumb.png",
        "full": "https://cdn.signa.so/marks/us/1234567/full.png"
      },
      "related_registrations": {
        "count": 12,
        "canonical_id": "tm_canonical_apple_001",
        "same_mark_other_offices": [
          {
            "id": "tm_euipo_9876543",
            "office": "EUIPO",
            "registration_number": "123456",
            "status": "live_registered"
          }
        ]
      },
      "similarity_score": 1.0,
      "urls": {
        "api": "https://api.signa.so/v1/trademarks/tm_us_1234567",
        "web": "https://signa.so/marks/tm_us_1234567",
        "office_url": "https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=73222079"
      }
    }
  ],
  "pagination": {
    "total_results": 156,
    "has_more": true,
    "next_cursor": "eyJvZmZzZXQiOjUwfQ=="
  },
  "search_metadata": {
    "query": "apple",
    "search_type": "exact",
    "query_time_ms": 142,
    "offices_searched": ["USPTO"],
    "credits_used": 1
  }
}

Unified Trademark Object

All trademarks use a consistent schema regardless of trademark office:

Field	Type	Description
`id`	string	Unique identifier (e.g., `tm_us_1234567`)
`canonical_id`	string	Cross-office family ID
`office`	object	Trademark office information
`office_data`	object	Office-specific numbers (registration, serial)
`mark`	object	Mark text, type, and metadata
`status`	object	Unified and office-specific status
`classifications`	object	Nice classes and goods/services
`owners`	array	Current and historical owners
`dates`	object	Filing, registration, expiry dates
`images`	object	Logo/design mark images
`related_registrations`	object	Same mark in other offices
`urls`	object	API, web, and office URLs

Unified Status Codes

We normalize status across all trademark offices:

Code	Status	Description
`LP`	`live_pending`	Application filed, under examination
`LR`	`live_registered`	Active registered trademark
`LO`	`live_opposition`	Under opposition proceedings
`DA`	`dead_abandoned`	Application abandoned
`DC`	`dead_cancelled`	Registration cancelled
`DE`	`dead_expired`	Registration expired

Each trademark also includes the original office status for reference.

Common Query Parameters

Parameter	Type	Required	Default	Description
`q`	string	✅	-	Search query
`search_type`	enum	❌	`exact`	`exact`, `fuzzy`, `phonetic`
`office`	string	❌	all offices	Office code or comma-separated list
`classes`	array	❌	all	Nice classes (1-45)
`status`	array	❌	all	Filter by unified status codes
`owner`	string	❌	-	Filter by owner name
`type`	array	❌	all	`word`, `logo`, `combined`
`threshold`	float	❌	`0.8`	Similarity threshold (fuzzy search)
`limit`	integer	❌	`50`	Max results (1-100)
`cursor`	string	❌	-	Pagination cursor
`include`	array	❌	-	Additional data: `images`, `history`, `related`

AI-Powered Analysis

Our most powerful feature for trademark risk assessment.

POST /v1/analysis/clearance

Analyzes your proposed trademark and provides:

Risk assessment (CLEAR, LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH)
Relevant Nice class suggestions with AI reasoning
Detailed conflict analysis for each similar mark
Actionable recommendations
Alternative name suggestions

Example Request:

curl -X POST https://api.signa.so/v1/analysis/clearance \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "trademark": "Just Do It",
    "business_description": "Selling motivational quote posters on Amazon",
    "product_type": "posters",
    "offices": ["USPTO"]
  }'

Example Response:

{
  "trademark": "Just Do It",
  "risk_level": "HIGH",
  "risk_score": 0.95,
  "recommendation": "AVOID - High likelihood of trademark infringement",
  "relevant_classes": {
    "16": {
      "name": "Paper goods and printed matter",
      "reason": "Covers posters, prints, and paper products",
      "confidence": 0.98,
      "ai_suggested": true
    },
    "35": {
      "name": "Advertising and business",
      "reason": "Amazon marketplace selling activities",
      "confidence": 0.82,
      "ai_suggested": true
    }
  },
  "conflicts": [
    {
      "mark_id": "tm_us_1234567",
      "mark_text": "JUST DO IT",
      "owner": "Nike, Inc.",
      "office": "USPTO",
      "classes": [16, 25, 35, 41],
      "status": "live_registered",
      "risk_score": 0.98,
      "conflict_reason": "Exact match in Class 16 (paper goods). This is Nike's famous registered trademark covering posters and printed materials. Using this phrase would likely constitute trademark infringement.",
      "recommendation": "AVOID"
    }
  ],
  "analysis_summary": "The phrase 'Just Do It' is a federally registered trademark owned by Nike, Inc. It is protected in Class 16, which directly covers your intended use (posters). This is considered a 'famous mark' with broad protection. Commercial use would likely result in trademark infringement claims.",
  "alternatives_suggested": [
    "Make It Happen",
    "Take Action Now",
    "Go For It",
    "Never Give Up"
  ],
  "next_steps": [
    "Consult with a trademark attorney before proceeding",
    "Consider using one of the alternative suggestions",
    "If you proceed, expect potential legal action from Nike"
  ],
  "legal_disclaimer": "This analysis is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Always consult a qualified trademark attorney for legal decisions.",
  "credits_used": 5
}

Image Search

Find visually similar logos and design marks:

POST /v1/search/image

Upload an image or provide a URL. Uses computer vision to find similar designs. Supported formats: PNG, JPEG, GIF, WebP Maximum size: 10MB Credits: 3 per request

Monitoring & Webhooks

Set up real-time monitoring for trademark filings and changes:

POST /v1/monitors

Get webhook notifications when:

New trademarks matching your criteria are filed
Existing marks change status
Similar marks are detected
Marks are published, registered, opposed, or cancelled

See Webhooks Guide for implementation details.

Pagination

We use cursor-based pagination for efficient, consistent results:

{
  "results": [...],
  "pagination": {
    "total_results": 500,
    "has_more": true,
    "next_cursor": "eyJvZmZzZXQiOjUwfQ=="
  }
}

Use the cursor parameter for the next page:

GET /v1/search?q=tech&cursor=eyJvZmZzZXQiOjUwfQ==

Credits & Rate Limits

The API uses a credit-based system. Each operation costs credits based on complexity (1-5 credits). Every response includes credit usage in headers (X-RateLimit-*). See the Rate Limits Guide for complete pricing, tiers, and credit management.

Error Handling

All errors follow a consistent format:

{
  "error": {
    "code": "invalid_request",
    "message": "The 'q' parameter is required for search requests",
    "details": {
      "parameter": "q",
      "reason": "missing_required_parameter"
    },
    "request_id": "req_abc123xyz",
    "documentation_url": "https://docs.signa.so/errors/invalid_request"
  }
}

See Error Handling Guide for all error codes.

Data Freshness

All trademark records include metadata about data quality:

{
  "metadata": {
    "data_quality_score": 95,
    "data_completeness": 98,
    "last_verified": "2025-10-15T08:30:00Z",
    "normalization_version": "2.1"
  }
}

Data is synced daily from official sources. Each trademark includes urls.office_url for verification. See Data Sources Guide for details.

Example Use Cases

Brand Clearance Search

Check if a name is available before filing:

const response = await fetch(
  'https://api.signa.so/v1/search?q=MyBrand&office=USPTO,EUIPO',
  {
    headers: { 'Authorization': `Bearer ${apiKey}` }
  }
);

const data = await response.json();

if (data.results.length === 0) {
  console.log('No exact matches found!');
  // Consider fuzzy and phonetic searches too
}

AI-Powered Analysis for E-commerce Sellers

Perfect for Etsy/Amazon seller tools:

const analysis = await fetch(
  'https://api.signa.so/v1/analysis/clearance',
  {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: {
      'Authorization': `Bearer ${apiKey}`,
      'Content-Type': 'application/json'
    },
    body: JSON.stringify({
      trademark: 'Vintage Rose Designs',
      business_description: 'Selling handmade jewelry on Etsy',
      product_type: 'jewelry'
    })
  }
);

const result = await analysis.json();
console.log(`Risk level: ${result.risk_level}`);
console.log(`Recommendation: ${result.recommendation}`);

Competitor Monitoring

Track new filings in your industry:

await fetch('https://api.signa.so/v1/monitors', {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    'Authorization': `Bearer ${apiKey}`,
    'Content-Type': 'application/json'
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    name: 'Tech competitors watch',
    watches: [
      { type: 'query', value: 'tech', search_type: 'fuzzy' }
    ],
    offices: ['USPTO'],
    classes: [9, 42],
    webhook_url: 'https://myapp.com/webhooks/trademarks',
    webhook_events: ['new_filing', 'trademark_published']
  })
});

Portfolio Management

Track renewal dates for your trademarks:

const trademark = await fetch(
  'https://api.signa.so/v1/trademarks/tm_us_1234567?include=history',
  {
    headers: { 'Authorization': `Bearer ${apiKey}` }
  }
);

const data = await trademark.json();
console.log(`Status: ${data.status.unified_status}`);
console.log(`Renewal due: ${data.dates.renewal_date}`);

Next Steps

Quickstart Guide

Get started in 5 minutes

Authentication

Learn about API keys

Webhooks

Set up real-time monitoring

Best Practices

Optimize your integration

Getting Help

Ready to start building? Get your API key → Need help? Contact us at [email protected]

Get Started

API Reference

Core Concepts

​Base URL

​What Makes Us Different

Unified Search

AI-Powered Analysis

Normalized Data

Cross-Office Tracking

​Core Capabilities

​🔍 Search & Discovery

Text Search

Image Search

​🤖 AI-Powered Analysis

Conflict Check

Clearance Search

Class Suggestion

​📊 Lookup & Monitoring

Trademark Lookup

Owner Search

Monitoring & Webhooks

​Supported Trademark Offices

​Authentication

​Request & Response Format

​Main Search Endpoint

​Unified Search

​Unified Trademark Object

​Unified Status Codes

​Common Query Parameters

​AI-Powered Analysis

​Image Search

​Monitoring & Webhooks

​Pagination

​Credits & Rate Limits

​Error Handling

​Data Freshness

​Example Use Cases

​Brand Clearance Search

​AI-Powered Analysis for E-commerce Sellers

​Competitor Monitoring

​Portfolio Management

​Next Steps

Quickstart Guide

Authentication

Webhooks

Best Practices

​Getting Help

Base URL

What Makes Us Different

Core Capabilities

🔍 Search & Discovery

🤖 AI-Powered Analysis

📊 Lookup & Monitoring

Supported Trademark Offices

Authentication

Request & Response Format

Main Search Endpoint

Unified Search

Unified Trademark Object

Unified Status Codes

Common Query Parameters

AI-Powered Analysis

Image Search

Monitoring & Webhooks

Pagination

Credits & Rate Limits

Error Handling

Data Freshness

Example Use Cases

Brand Clearance Search

AI-Powered Analysis for E-commerce Sellers

Competitor Monitoring

Portfolio Management

Next Steps

Getting Help