How to Trademark your Business Name?

Introduction

A trademark, or service mark, is a word, phrase, or symbol used to identify the source of a good or service and distinguish it from the goods and services of others. Trademarks can be filed in either state or federal court. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) registers trademarks for federal protection.

Why Trademark Your Business Name?

Trademarking your business name is a good idea for many reasons:

• Protect your brand and intellectual property
• Avoid confusion with other businesses
• Protect yourself from being sued

Send copies of your application to each state in which you plan to use the mark (this costs money and can take several weeks, depending on how fast your state government processes paperwork). Your trademark will be registered once approval is granted by the USPTO. Establish your business as a legal entity in the eyes of the law. If you’re not sure if someone else is infringing on your trademark, it’s best to consult a lawyer. They can look at the details of your business and determine whether or not it would be worth taking legal action against an infringer. A business name is how customers identify you, so it’s important to choose a name that conveys your brand. For example, if your company sells carpet cleaning services then “ABC Carpet Cleaning” might be an appropriate name. But if you sell computers and software, then using the same name could be confusing because people may think they are buying carpet cleaning services instead of computer products…

What Problem Does a Trademark Solve?

A trademark protects your business name, brand, and logo from being used by others. It’s helpful in preventing legal issues, as well as confusion among customers. The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) requires that you register a trademark with them before using it in commerce. If someone else is using your trademark without permission, they are infringing on your rights to use it yourself.

A common question is whether or not you can sue someone for using a name similar to yours without securing one first. The answer is yes—you can file a lawsuit against an infringer if they’ve registered their trademark with the USPTO first (and haven’t abandoned their rights).

How to Trademark a Business Name

Once you have your business name, you can register it with the state. This is an important first step that protects your rights to use the name in any state and prevents others from using it as well. You can find out how to do this from your state government website or even through a local law firm if you don’t want to do it yourself. Your trademark application must be filed in writing with the USPTO and submitted online through their system (you will have to pay a fee). After submitting your application, there are some things that are required to be accomplished before approval:

• Prepare specimens of each item for which protection is sought (for example, labels)
• Include statements regarding the international application; concurrent uses; intent-to-use basis; disclaimers/limitations of scope/duration of use; etc.

Trademarking a name is an important part of protecting your business and brand.

It is a good idea to trademark your brand name before launching your company, as this will give you legal protection for the name of your business. There are many reasons why it’s important to protect your brand, including preventing someone from copying or stealing it and preventing unauthorized use of the name by another company (competitor). If you don’t take steps to protect your brand name and logo, someone else could swoop in and claim them as their own.

Conclusion

Trademarking your business name is an important step in protecting your brand. It can help you avoid legal issues and make sure that no one else can use your company’s name. If you’re unsure of whether or not to trademark, take a look at our tips for determining if it’s worth it!