How to search for a trademark

[modus]

Internet is full of service providers who will gladly perform a trademark search to make sure you do not infringe on any existing trademarks... for around $500 a search! Holly cow!

What else can domainers do to make sure we do not step on some pre-existing well-funded short-tempered toes? The last thing I want to be is doing 10 years to life for registering KeanuReeves.net

 

[jido]

First place to look at is the US Patent and Trademark Office

http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/gate.exe?f=login&p_lang=english&p_d=trmk

 

[DNQuest.com]

You can also Google or Yahoo the name and see what results pop up. That is a pretty good indicator if they can claim TM status (though not theonly way to search).

 

[IAmAllanShore]

Google; first and foremost, Google.
USPTO is great for registered marks in the US.
WIPO.int might be a resource if you're worried about international.