There is now a faster way to find out where a trademark stands. Head to Check Application Status, type in a brand or owner name, and you will see every matching mark on the US register with its current status and full filing history. No serial number required.
The page also explains what each status actually means in plain English. Pending, published for opposition, abandoned, registered: you get a one-line definition and what tends to happen next, so a status label stops being a mystery.
If you have ever stared at a status term and wondered whether it was good news or bad news, this is for you.