If you're thinking about filing a trademark application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), it's completely understandable to wonder: "Will my name and address be made public?"
The short answer? Yes — to a degree.
The USPTO is a government agency, and like most government filings, trademark applications become part of the public record. But there are ways to protect certain sensitive information, especially your home address.
Let’s walk through what’s made public — and what you can do to maintain some privacy.
What Information Is Public on a Trademark Application?
When you file a trademark application, the USPTO requires:
The name of the applicant, and
A signature from the applicant or their authorized representative.
This information is always included in the public record. Once the application is filed, anyone can look it up through the USPTO’s online database, though it takes a few screen clicks to get there and not everyone will know how.
The name of the applicant will either be:
An individual’s name (if applying personally), or
A company’s name (if applying as a business entity)
That means if you’re applying as an individual, your name will be visible in public trademark records.
What About My Address? Is That Public Too?
Here’s where it gets a bit more nuanced.
The USPTO requires what's called a domicile street address — basically, your true, physical address where you receive mail. But there’s also an option to provide a separate mailing address, which is the one that will appear on public documents.
Let’s break that down:
✅ Domicile Address (Private but Required)
For individuals: This is your legal place of residence.
For businesses: This is where a senior executive of the company primarily conducts business, which can also be a residence, if applicable.
Must be a real, physical street address — not a P.O. Box, registered agent address, virtual office, or mail forwarding service.
This address is used by the USPTO to confirm the legitimacy of your application.
If the USPTO detects that your domicile address is invalid (like a virtual office or registered agent), it may issue a refusal — which can result in extra time, fees, and frustration.
✅ Mailing Address (Public and Optional)
To protect privacy, you can list a mailing address that is made public, instead of your domicile address. This gives applicants — especially individuals — a way to shield their home address from the public record. This can be a P.O. Box, registered agent address, virtual office, or mail forwarding service.
Example:
You might list your home as your domicile address (required, but kept private) and list a P.O. Box, business address, or other alternative as your public mailing address.
Why Does the USPTO Need a Domicile Address?
The USPTO uses your domicile street address to determine things like:
Whether you are required to work with a U.S.-licensed attorney (for international applicants)
Who is the rightful applicant or owner of the trademark
Where the business is actually conducted
This helps prevent fraudulent filings and ensures that trademark rights are being claimed by legitimate parties.
In Summary
Yes, your name and mailing address will be part of the public trademark record.
No, your private domicile address doesn’t have to be made public — as long as you provide a separate, valid mailing address.
Avoid using virtual offices or registered agent addresses as your domicile — doing so can result in rejection of your application.
Tip: If you’re applying as an individual and want to keep your home address private, it’s worth taking the time to set up an alternate mailing address before you file your trademark application. There is a cost to changing your address later in the process.