A trademark is any word, name, symbol, device or combination thereof used by a person to identify goods made or sold and to distinguish them from the goods made or sold by another person.  In general, you use a trademark to identify a product or goods that are sold (examples include soft drinks, automobiles, magazines and food).

You will need:

• Proof of citizenship (such as a birth certificate), and
• Two proofs of Tennessee residency (such as a voter registration card, a utility bill, vehicle registration or title, or bank statement).
• If your name differs from that on your primary ID, proof of the changed name (such as a certified marriage certificate, divorce decree, court order, etc.)

Learn more about the required documents at the Department of Safety and Homeland Security's Voter Photo ID page.

Tennesseans voting early or on Election Day must bring valid photo identification with them to the polls. A driver's license or photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, by Tennessee state government or by the federal government are acceptable even if they are expired. College student IDs are not acceptable.

Learn more about what types of ID are acceptable here or call the Division of Elections at 1-877-850-4959.

Visit the Department of Safety and Homeland Security's Driver Service Center Locations page for information about locations and hours, closure advisories, and self-service kiosks and online renewal.

You can file form SS-4800 to change the mailing address by mail or in person. A change in Registered Agent or principal address requires filing Articles of Amendment and paying the statutory $20 filing fee.  Forms can be found on our the Forms & Fees page for mail and in person filings.

To renew a trademark or service mark use the Application for Renewal of Trademark or Service Mark.

The Tennessee Trade Mark Act of 2000 governs trademark registration in Tennessee.  The Tennessee Trade Mark Act of 2000 can be found in the Tennessee Code Annotated, Sections 47-25-501 through 47-25-518.

No.  If you already have a valid government-issued photo ID for voting purposes, the Department of Safety and Homeland Security will not issue a free photo ID to you.

You may obtain a free photo ID to vote from the Department of Safety and Homeland Security at any participating driver service center across the state. You may use the “express service” line at the driver service center to obtain your photo ID to minimize wait times. Visit the Department of Safety and Homeland Security's Voter Photo ID page for more information.

How the applicant is using the mark. For example, “business cards”, “letterhead”, “flyers”, “signs”, “labels”, “newspaper advertisements”, “billboards”, “bus benches”, “television advertisements”, “websites”.

Yes.  If you cannot afford a copy of the documents required to obtain a free photo ID, you may sign a form stating under oath that you are indigent and have been unable to obtain an acceptable photo ID for voting without paying a fee.

The reasons for rejection include, but are not necessarily limited to:

• An incomplete form is submitted.  All blanks must be filled in for both registration and renewal applications.
• An acceptable specimen is not provided.  A specimen is required for both registration and renewal applications.
• No signature.
• Incomplete dates.  Dates must include month, day and year.
• The application is completed in pencil.  All registration and renewal applications must be typewritten or completed in ink.
• Failure to include the $20.00 per classification filing fee.
• Failure to include the type of goods and/or services to be provided.
• Failure to include the mode or manner of use.
• Failure to include a classification in the application.
• A new owner is listed in a renewal application.

A service mark is the same as a trademark, except that a service mark is used by a person to identify services rendered or offered and to distinguish them from the services rendered or offered by another person.  The services must be provided to the public or any party other than the applicant.  In general, you use a service mark to identify services that are offered or sold (examples include restaurant, retail business and computer services).

Find your early voting and Election Day polling place and hours in the GoVoteTN app.

If you don’t bring a photo ID, you will vote a provisional ballot. You will then have two (2) business days after Election Day to return to the election commission office to show a valid photo ID. Upon returning to the election commission office, the voter will sign an affidavit and a copy of the voter’s photo ID will be made to be reviewed by the counting board.

A specimen is an actual example of the use of the mark in commerce.  It is the means by which the public would view your mark and be aware of the specific goods or services offered.

For trademarks, examples of acceptable specimens are tags or labels that are attached to the goods, containers for the goods, displays associated with the goods, or photographs of the goods showing use of the mark of the goods themselves. Invoices, announcements, order forms, bills of lading, leaflets, brochures, catalogs, publicity release, letterhead and business cards may be acceptable specimens for trademarks if they sufficiently demonstrate that the mark is being used with the goods. If it is impractical to send the actual specimens because of its size, photographs or other acceptable reproductions that show the mark on the goods, or packaging for the goods, must be furnished.

For services marks, examples of acceptable specimens are signs, brochures about the services, advertisements for the services, business cards or stationary showing the mark in connection with the services, or photographs that show the mark either as it is used in the rendering or advertising of the services. The specimen must either show the mark and include some clear reference to the type of services rendered under the  mark in some form of advertising, or show the mark as it is used in the rendering of the service (for example, on a store front or the side of a delivery truck).

The specimen should not be larger than 8 ½ inches by 11 inches and should be flat. Small specimens, such as tags or labels, must be taped or pasted to a sheet of paper and labeled “SPECIMEN”.

No, but if you do not have another form of valid photo ID, the Department of Safety and Homeland Security will reissue your license with your photo for free upon request.

The Secretary of State’s Absentee By-Mail Ballot Status Tracker tool allows voters to track the status of their absentee by-mail ballot.

You must mail your ballot in time for your county election commission to receive it no later than the close of polls on Election Day.

You must return your ballot by mail (USPS, FedEx, UPS, etc.). Hand delivery or handing it to a poll worker during early voting or on Election Day is not permitted.

Learn more about voting absentee by-mail.

Enter a complete and accurate description of the overall mark. If the mark contains both words and a design element, the description must include both. If a mark is in color, you must list the portions of the mark that are in color and the corresponding color for each. If the description is not accurate, either incomplete or includes words, letters, numbers, or other elements not actually appearing in the mark image, the applicant will be required to amend the description of the mark.

Trademark protection lasts for five years from the date of filing.  Trademarks can be renewed for subsequent five year intervals beginning from six months prior to expiration until the day of expiration.

Yes, as long as it was validly issued by the federal or Tennessee state government and contains the name and photograph of the voter.

The filing fee for the application is $20.00 per Class entered in number 10 of the application.  If there is only one (1) class indicated the fee is $20.00. If there are two (2) classes indicated, the fee is $40.00, etc.

 Make check, cashier’s check or money order payable to the Tennessee Secretary of State.  Cash is only accepted for walk-in filings.

Pursuant to T.C.A. § 47-25-507, a registered mark is assignable with the good will of the business in which the mark is used, or with that part of the good will of the business connected with the use of and symbolized by the mark. An assignment must be made by “instruments in writing duly executed.” An assignment must include within the assignment instrument itself a provision expressly indicating the transfer of “good will” to the assignee.

A separate assignment instrument and application for assignment of trademark or service mark must be submitted for each registered mark; if a mark is registered in more than one class, only one assignment instrument and application need be submitted. A photocopy of the executed assignment instrument may be submitted in lieu of the original assignment instrument if it is certified by any of the parties thereto, or their successors, to be a true and correct copy of the original.

To assign a registered trademark or service mark use the Application for Assignment of Trademark or Service Mark.

To access information on trademarks, use the Trademark/Servicemark Search. This database reflects active trademarks/servicemarks on file with the Tennessee Secretary of State. Both 'Active' and 'Cancelled' marks are searchable.

If you are unsure or have questions about your photo ID, contact your county election commission or the Division of Elections at 1-877-850-4959.

Trademark & Service Mark Classes Guide

An Administrative dissolution occurs for the following reasons:

• Failure to file an annual report
• Being without a registered agent
• A foreign entity fails to maintain its assumed name due to a name conflict
• Returned payment by a financial institution

A certificate of existence is a document issued by our office that certifies that an entity is active and in good standing.

The Secretary of State does not play any role in regulating the use of trademarks or in prosecuting their misuse.  The Tennessee Trade Mark Act of 2000 designates the Department of State as the filing agency for trademarks.  The Department’s role is strictly ministerial.  If you have any questions about the “protection” of a mark, infringement upon your mark, or the application of filing requirements to your specific situation, you should consult an attorney or other professional.

An assumed name is a name other than the true entity name under which it conducts business.  Tennessee does not recognize 'DBAs' (doing business as) or fictitious names.  The assumed name is good for 5 years and can be renewed.