Many people wishing to protect their intellectual property both online and offline apply for trademarks. A trademark can be obtained by following the steps outlined by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. A trademark search should first be conducted to make sure that a similar mark is not already registered by another party. A trademark application must then be filled out and a filing fee must be paid in oder to submit the application for consideration. The United States Patent and Trademark Office allows applicants to apply for trademarks electronically using their Trademark Electronic Application System, or TEAS. When applying with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for a trademark, electronic system application submissions are available for a slightly discounted rate compared to paper submissions. A filing receipt will then be issued with a unique serial number, allowing applicants to track the status of their trademark applications online.