Ask a Question
or
Create a Poll
  1. Home /
  2. Questions /
  3. Legal
  4. / Trademark Law
  5. / Trademark Law (General)

by Pearson on December 2nd, 2007

Pearson

Question

Help answer this question below.

I have made up a name that I want to use for an internet business. How do I make sure that no one can steal it from me? copyright, trademark...?

  • Like
  • Report
Share:
Other

Answers. 3 helpful answers below.

  • by Costantinus on December 2nd, 2007

    Costantinus

    to start with if you buy a domain for it then that's yours for $10 and if they steal the name then they'll be advertising your domain for free.
    But you can also trademark it, copyright is a different thing.

    • Like
    • Report

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

  • by E_Knight on March 31st, 2009

    E_Knight

    First, file a DBA (Doing Business As) name in your state or county. The fee is not much. Then, you can file for a tradmark, if the name is unique and you feel valuable enough. A Trademark search costs $$$, and filing a trademark name starts @ $248 and goes up, depending on a number of things. You might want to contact an attorney specializing in trademark and copyright law to guide you through the process if you think it is worth enough to you. This area is a pain in the butt, tricky, and costly, which is why so many people and businesses forgo filing trademarks, or rely on attorneys to help them if the name is valuable and unique enough. On the other hand, filing a DBA offers you SOME protections. The state/counties in which you file a business name will NOT allow anyone else to file that name. I think you may also file a DBA nationally. Be careful about using those online services that offer to make it easy on you, however. Remember they are in it to make money. It only costs $50 to file a DBA in NY, and possibly less in other locales. The online services begin around $90, and could go up from there, when you could do the same thing more cheaply. I am not sure about how much it costs to file a nationwide DBA, however. But, when you file a DBA, they will TELL you if anyone else has filed a business in that name, which is cheaper and a lot faster than doing a trademark search.

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

  • by Anonymous on December 3rd, 2007

    Anonymous

    First, you want to do a Trademark search with the PTO office to be sure that you are not stealing someone else's name.

    Second, you want to register the name with the PTO office.

    It should be noted that you get local protection in many states just by using the name. However, this does little good for an Internet business that has no local boundaries.

    Also, just by buying the domain name, you will prevent most people from copying your name. However, if you buy the domain and it infringes someone else's trademark, they can sue you.

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

Want to attach an image to your answer? Click here.

Did this answer your question? If not, then ask a new question or create a poll.

More Questions. Additional questions in this category.

You're reading I have made up a name that I want to use for an internet business. How do I make sure that no one can steal it from me? copyright, trademark...?

Follow us on Facebook!

Related Ads

Related Questions

Professionally Researched

ANSWERBAG BUZZ

Made up name for a state
What is a made up business name
Whiskey vs beer
How do i make sure no one else can use my business name
Registering a business name so no one can steal it

Answerbag

a Demand Media company