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USPTO Releases Tribal Insignia Database Under FOIA

Unconfirmed1 source · Jul 22, 2026

The Patent and Trademark Office disclosed its official database of Native American tribal insignias in response to a FOIA request.

USPTO Releases Tribal Insignia Database Under FOIA
Image via The Black Vault

What happened

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office released a database of official tribal insignias on July 16, 2026, in response to a Freedom of Information Act request. The agency identified a responsive spreadsheet and released it in full, containing a snapshot of the USPTO's Native American Tribal Insignia Database as it existed at the time of processing. The archive, made available through The Black Vault, includes the spreadsheet and copies of the insignias contained in the database.

Context

The USPTO maintains this database as part of its trademark search system to help trademark examining attorneys determine whether pending trademark applications falsely suggest a connection to official insignias of federally or state-recognized Native American tribes. The database serves a protective function in the trademark examination process.