CharacterGuard
Illustration: a green mascot cheering in front of a board of pinned, dated notesFree tool · Start here

First-use logger for your AI character’s name

Log where and when the name went public. We find the two dates a trademark form asks for.

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Saved on this device only · Nothing is uploaded

  1. 1Add each public post
  2. 2See your two key dates
  3. 3Save proof and export

Saved on this device only

02 Add a public post

Where

03 Timeline

    Export your log

    Make each date stick

    • Take a dated screenshotWhole browser window, with the address bar and the date showing.
    • Archive the pageTap “Save to Wayback” on any post with a link. A third party keeps a dated copy.
    • Keep the originalsThe upload file, its export date and any scripts. Don’t edit old screenshots.

    Turn this log into an attorney-ready packet.

    The lock kit puts your first-use dates, a specimen capture and Class 41 wording in one PDF. $249 once, $199 for each extra character.

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    Check your screenshot Find your Class 41 wording
    What the two dates mean USPTO sources

    A use-based application lists two dates for each class. The date of first use anywhere is when the services were first rendered under the mark, in the ordinary course of trade. The date of first use in commerce is the same kind of use in commerce Congress can regulate, such as across state lines. The first can be earlier than the second or the same day, never later (USPTO, Dates of use; TMEP 903).

    The logger counts only entries ticked “offered to the public as entertainment.” First use anywhere is the earliest of those. First use in commerce is the earliest that wasn’t in person only. Website screenshots used as a specimen need the URL and the date you accessed the page (USPTO, Drawings and specimens).

    Questions

    Where is my log saved?
    Only in this browser, on this device. Nothing you type is sent to CharacterGuard or anyone else. Clearing your browser data deletes it, so export a PDF or CSV and keep a copy.
    What is the date of first use anywhere?
    The USPTO says it’s the date the services were first rendered under the mark, in the ordinary course of trade, anywhere. For a channel, that’s usually the first time you offered videos or streams to the public under the name.
    What is the date of first use in commerce?
    The same kind of use, but in commerce the U.S. Congress can regulate, such as across state lines. It can be the same day as first use anywhere, and it can’t be earlier. Public online posts often reach other states, so the two dates are often the same.
    Does a teaser or name reveal count?
    Log it, but leave “offered to the public as entertainment” unticked. Mentioning a name isn’t the same as providing services under it. The logger only counts ticked entries for the two dates.
    Why archive the page?
    The Wayback Machine keeps a dated copy made by a third party. With your own dated screenshot, it helps show the page looked that way on that day.
    Does CharacterGuard file the application?
    No. CharacterGuard isn’t a law firm and doesn’t file. This log is a record to bring to your attorney, who confirms the dates.

    CharacterGuard is not a law firm and does not file trademarks. This tool is general information, not legal advice, and no outcome is guaranteed. Your attorney confirms the dates. Updated October 19, 2026.