|
|
How do I copyright my company name?Hi Dave, I am looking to get started with my own business, and was wondering what steps would be best for getting our name copyrighted with the U.S. Copyright Office. What advice do you have? I think you misunderstand the purpose of copyright law, actually (though, to be honest, I'm certainly not a copyright or intellectual property lawyer, so take my comment here with a grain or two of salt). The Copyright Office explains: "Copyright, a form of intellectual property law, protects original works of authorship including literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works, such as poetry, novels, movies, songs, computer software, and architecture. Copyright does not protect facts, ideas, systems, or methods of operation, although it may protect the way these things are expressed." And they also offer this: "How do I copyright a name, title, slogan or logo? -- Copyright does not protect names, titles, slogans, or short phrases. In some cases, these things may be protected as trademarks. Contact the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, for further information." So let's flip over to the Patent & Trademark Office to see what they have to say about company names... Actually, before we do, in case you don't think that the Copyright Office staff have a sense of humor, one of the questions on their FAQ is "How do I protect my sighting of Elvis?" I kid you not! According to the USPTO (U.S. Patent & Trademark Office): "A trademark includes any word, name, symbol, or device, or any combination used, or intended to be used, in commerce to identify and distinguish the goods of one manufacturer or seller from goods manufactured or sold by others, and to indicate the source of the goods. In short, a trademark is a brand name." I'd recommend that you apply for a trademark for your company name, based on all this information. Conveniently, you can fill out an application online and file it over the Internet using their Trademark Electronic Application System. You can also respond to any queries or actions from the USPTO, and file change of address notices and many other documents through TEAS. Finally, the Trademark Applications and Registrations Retrieval database lets you dig through registered trademarks, applications, and check on the status of your own application too. I hope that helps you get started traveling in the right direction!
More Useful Business and Management Articles:
✔ How do I trademark my group's name?
Yo Dave! So I'm looking 2 trademark my group's name, and once its trademarked will I get a certain certificate of trademark to...
✔ Export LinkedIn Profile as a PDF Resume?I've spent the last year or two updating and adding to my LinkedIn profile and it has a ton of information about me....
✔ How do I run a credit card transaction with PayPal Here?I contacted PayPal and got their little blue triangle card reader for use with the "PayPal Here" application, so I can process credit...
✔ How do I search for a registered trademark?I'm trying to come up with a new name for our software product, having been informed by a customer that a really big...
✔ I'm unemployed. What do I list on LinkedIn?I wanna ask you about LinkedIn. What's the best practice to fill out the CURRENT POSITION Field when you are not working and...
Let's stay in touch!
Sign up for my weekly AskDaveTaylor Newsletter and you'll receive even more tech and gadget help
right to your inbox, along with exclusive news and industry updates. It's good stuff. I promise!
Categorized:
Business and Management
(Article 4080,
Written by Dave Taylor)
Tagged: Previous: What questions can I be legally asked at a job interview? Next: Changing Default Save-As Image Type in Windows? Reader Comments To Date: 13Pat said, on June 17, 2006 6:02 PM:
WHEN I WAS IN A CHATROOM, THIS GUY GAVE ME A THING TO TYPE IN AND IT COPYRIGHTED MY NAME MOMMA...HOW DO I GET THAT BACK...I LOST IT WHEN MY MSN CRASHED.IT WAS FREE WHEN I DID IT, THOUGH. CAN YOU HELP ME? Jacob said, on August 7, 2006 11:59 AM:
What is the differents between SM and Trademark. chiquita lee said, on April 23, 2007 5:15 PM:
me and some friends started a book club and we wanted to know the name we chose has been used and if not how to we copyright it. cythia said, on November 30, 2007 11:45 AM:
i want to start a clothing line do i need to trade mark my name or get it branded do branded and trade make mean the same thing Monie said, on July 19, 2008 7:38 AM:
Hello i would like to copy right my clothing line name how do i got about that. damon said, on November 22, 2008 8:03 PM:
go here www.directlegal.com, this will help you ppl out more.. peace stevo said, on January 13, 2010 9:35 PM:
gday, mate just set up a repossessions business, called call collect, just googled it to find a phone company with the same name that is copyright 09. im looking at creating a web site with a 1300 or 1800 number for easy connection for customers, is it still possible to carry on with the business name to trade mark it with a symbol of my own for the name itself??? Chris said, on June 23, 2010 3:43 AM:
Is there costs involved in copyrighting my company name? Marcus Grehag said, on October 27, 2010 1:46 PM:
Lots of companies uses the trademark or copy right symbols without beeing rigestered for this. So if your name seems occupied and trade marked, it might not be the case... Karla said, on November 27, 2010 11:18 AM:
Thanks Dave for the clarification, I could have not explained it better! ..but I am still surprised people asks the same questions in your comment section when the answer is in the text: read people READ!! Zig said, on July 8, 2011 2:21 PM:
i wanna trazemark my name "zig" as a rapper, and my group name "mafia 51". it might already be, but i need to make sure and trademark zig larry said, on April 20, 2013 9:49 PM:
Looking 2 trademark.my groups name, and once its trademarked will.u get a certain certuficate once its legit?
I do have a comment, now that you mention it!Check This Out Too... |
Recent Entries
Look for Answers
Recommended
All Our Categories
Apple iPad Help
Articles and Reviews Auctions and Online Shopping Blogs and Blogging Building Web Site Traffic Business and Management Computer and Internet Basics d) None of the Above Facebook Help Google Gmail Help Google Plus Help HTML, JavaScript and Web Site Programming Industry News and Trade Shows iPhone and Cell Phone Help iPod, Sony PSP and MP3 Player Help Kindle Fire Help Mac OS X Help Pay Per Click (PPC) Advertising Pinterest Help Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Shell Script Programming Tech Support Video Help The Writing Business Twitter, LinkedIn and Social Network Help Unix and Linux Help Video Game Tips and Help Windows PC Help Find Me on Google+ ADT on G+ |
this site is very helpful.