Open the USPTO API Key Manager
Visit the official USPTO account API Key Manager.
TSDR API Help
How to Get a USPTO TSDR API Key
Learn the official TSDR API registration path and how to configure secure trademark status, document and image retrieval.
TSDR case workflow
- 1Known serial number
- 2Status + document lookup
- 3Source-backed verification
Trademark data accessStatus / Documents / Images
On this page
Direct answer
Where do you obtain a USPTO TSDR API key?
The official USPTO API Key Manager is accessible through a USPTO.gov account. A registered user may request access to TSDR according to the current USPTO process.
Trademark-Leads.com separately reviews commercial key-access inquiries. Our independent service is not the USPTO or its official API Key Manager.
Official registration steps
Sign in or create an account
Follow the USPTO authentication and identity verification instructions.
Request TSDR API access
Choose the correct TSDR service and review the key status and expiration.
Follow documentation
Use the documented TSDR authentication header and request formats.
What to check before using your key
Correct service
TSDR and the USPTO Open Data Portal are different API products.
Authentication
Follow the relevant API documentation and keep secrets out of public source code.
Rate limits
Review general and PDF/ZIP download limits before automating.
Case identifiers
TSDR typically retrieves status and documents for known serial or registration numbers.
Expiration
Confirm the official access and expiration conditions.
Common registration questions
Is TSDR the same as Trademark Search?
No. Trademark Search discovers applications and registrations; TSDR retrieves record-level status and documents.
Are all USPTO API keys interchangeable?
No. Use the key and instructions for the specific USPTO API product.
Can I request assistance?
Yes. Our team reviews API access and setup inquiries.
Can I use an Open Data Portal key as a TSDR API key?
Do not assume the credential for one USPTO API product or gateway works for another. Verify the documented authentication and authorization for the exact TSDR endpoint.
Is Trademark-Leads.com the official USPTO API registration page?
No. It is an independent data provider with a separate reviewed $20 key-access offer. Direct government registration is at account.uspto.gov/api-manager/. Availability, authorization and terms must be verified.
Direct answer
TSDR key access: what to decide before registration
First decide whether you need case-status lookups, official document retrieval, mark images or an automated case-monitoring workflow. A TSDR key is for the USPTO's TSDR API; it is not necessarily suitable for every USPTO data product. If you primarily need keyword search and discovery, start with Trademark Search before designing the TSDR portion of your process.
A second decision is whether you are requesting an official key directly through the USPTO Key Manager or buying independently provided access and support. The two workflows should not be confused. In either case, the API is subject to the relevant USPTO instructions, authorized use and service availability.
Check access before building an integration
Identify the system
Confirm that your endpoint belongs to TSDR rather than the Open Data Portal or another USPTO API.
Confirm the identifier format
Select a documented serial number, registration number or other supported case reference.
Protect the credential
Configure it server-side; never paste a secret API key into browser-side JavaScript or a public repository.
Test a known case
Make one small authorized request and confirm that the response belongs to the expected trademark record.
Plan separate document limits
If you intend to retrieve PDFs or ZIP archives, design for the stricter download allowance.
Record access conditions
Track the key's permitted use, official expiration information and the date you last validated access.
Examples of TSDR API uses
Case-status monitoring
Check the current public status of a known application or registration and record when the observation was made.
Office Action retrieval
Access available case documents and review actual Office Action text instead of relying only on a status label.
Portfolio research
Retrieve current data for a list of known applications and keep provenance for later comparison.
Trademark intelligence
Connect cases discovered through appropriate search data with official TSDR status and document evidence.
Understanding key validity
A USPTO API Key Manager credential has an official status and expiration context. If you purchase a separate 12-month commercial access term, keep its purchase and support conditions distinct from the official credential's status. Use the current official documentation to understand renewals, rotation and access requirements.
A USPTO API Key Manager credential has an official status and expiration context. If you purchase a separate 12-month commercial access term, keep its purchase and support conditions distinct from the official credential's status. Use the current official documentation to understand renewals, rotation and access requirements.
Practical API-key questions
Does a TSDR API key automatically include a keyword search API?
No. TSDR is focused on programmatic retrieval of trademark case status, documents and images. Trademark Search has a different purpose.
Can I retrieve public trademark Office Actions?
Supported documents can be retrieved through documented TSDR interfaces, subject to document availability and PDF/ZIP limits.
How do I avoid a leaked API key?
Keep it out of public code, browser URLs, public logs and screenshots; use a server-side secret mechanism.
What if the USPTO API is temporarily unavailable?
Check official system status and distinguish an outage from a rejected credential or a rate-limit response. An additional key does not fix a system-wide outage.
Need TSDR API key access?
If you need access for supported public trademark status, document or image retrieval, review our $20-per-key offer. State your intended use, and our team will review the request before payment instructions are issued.