Learn how to register a trademark for your business name with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Find out the benefits, costs, steps and tips for protecting your name from intellectual property theft or misuse.
Learn the benefits of trademarking your business name and the steps to do it. Find out how to check if your desired name is available, file an application with the USPTO, and maintain your registration.
Provide Accurate Information: Include your name, address, and the goods or services associated with your trademark. Select the Right Class: Trademarks are organized into classes based on the type of goods or services. Make sure you select the appropriate class for your business. Include a Clear Description: Describe your products or services in detail. . This helps prevent confusion during the ...
That’s why many business owners look into registering trademarks for their business names. While not required, a trademark can provide legal protection against unauthorized and unlawful usage of your brandable assets. Trademarks can be registered at the federal or state level. Not every business will need a trademark for its business name.
Learn what trademarks are, why they’re important, and the four steps for how to trademark a business name. Find out the difference between trademarks, copyrights, and patents, and how to protect your brand assets from infringement.
If you were the first business in the industry to use the name, you may have rights to a common law trademark. Still, this protection is usually limited to the geographic area in which the name is ...
The presence of a comparable business name trademark is just one of the many requirements set forth by the USPTO for trademark registration. For instance, the name cannot be too general, dishonest, or immoral. We’ll go over more factors later in the article that can render your company name unsuitable for a trademark. You can better ...
Here is how to trademark your business name in five simple steps: Step One: Determine If Your Business Name Can Be Trademarked. Before you start the trademark application process, it’s essential to ensure that your business name is eligible for trademark protection. Not all names can be trademarked, so here’s a quick list of what cannot be ...
1. Determine whether a trademark application is right for you. A trademark is different from patents, copyrights, domain names and business name registrations. If you are specifically seeking to protect brand names and logos, you may proceed with the trademark registration process. 2. Prepare to apply.
To trademark a business name, it must meet the eligibility criteria set by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The name must be distinctive, either inherently (as in fanciful or arbitrary names like “Kodak” or “Apple”) or through secondary meaning, where a descriptive name becomes uniquely associated with a specific ...
Don’t register a trademark for non-business purposes. You can only trademark a brand name that you're using in business or that you intend to use in business in the near future. Don’t register a generic or descriptive name. Your trademark name has to be distinctive or unique in some way to be approved.
If your business name, logo, or slogan matters to your identity, then registering the right trademark in the right class can be a smart step in the right direction. Note: Even if your state approved your business name, it’s smart to run a quick trademark search. State databases don’t always catch names that are federally or internationally ...
Before you get too attached to your business name, do a quick check to see if someone else has already claimed it. You can start with a simple Google search or dive deeper into the trademark database to see if your name is already taken. After all, you don’t want to be stepping on anyone else’s toes. Also see: How to Check Business Name ...
How to Trademark a Product Name Step 1: Search the Federal Database. The first step in trademarking a product name is to search the US Patent and Trademark Office’s (USPTO’s) Trademark Electronic Search System, which is commonly referred to as TESS.Search your desired product name to ensure that it’s not already in use by another business or individual.
Business credibility: A trademark gives your business credibility and lets customers know that your brand is legally protected. Use of the ® symbol: A trademark gives you the right to use the ® symbol next to your business name or logo, signaling that your mark is federally registered.
The emphasis is “nationwide,” as many business owners believe that simply registering a limited liability company (LLC) or a Doing Business As (DBA) trade name is enough to protect their business name. But the truth is that they only prevent other business owners from using your name on a state or even local level. 2. Identify Your Category
Conduct a Search: Before applying, search existing trademarks to ensure your name isn’t already taken.; Choose Your Mark: Decide what exactly you want to trademark—your business name, logo, or both.; Determine Your Classes: Trademarks are registered within specific classes of goods or services.Choose which apply to your business. File an Application: Submit your application to the United ...
To register and trademark your brand name, search the TESS database for similar brand names, fill out the trademark application and submit it to the USPTO for review. Trademark FAQs
