Trademark a Stage Name

Introduction

As an artist, you need to protect yourself and your work. Trademarking is a way to do just that, by giving you legal ownership over your stage name and other trademarks associated with your image. If someone else tries to use the same name or image as yours, they will be infringing on your trademark rights and will be liable for damages that can be caused by their infringement. Here are 2 ways that you can trademark a stage or performance name:

Trademark a Stage or Performance Name

You can register your stage name with the U.S. Copyright Office (after it has been used in commerce) or apply for an application with the USPTO and receive a certificate of registration. To avoid any confusion, we’re going to go over both options one at a time so you know exactly what you’re getting yourself into before making any decisions about how to go about this process.

Register your Stage Name with the U.S. Copyright Office

The U.S. Copyright Office is a federal agency that registers and regulates copyrights for intellectual property such as books, music, and art. The U.S. Copyright Office is in charge of granting you ownership rights over your stage name so that you can use it without worrying about anyone stealing it from you or making money off it without your consent. By registering your name with the U.S.-based government agency, you’ll be able to protect yourself from people who try to steal your identity or make money off of something they claim is yours when they don’t actually have any rights to it at all! You’ll also get legal protection against anyone who tries to impersonate or copy what makes up part of your unique personal brand: including but not limited to any logos created specifically for this purpose (such as “John Doe” written out in text overtop an image).

Get a Certificate of Registration

A certificate of registration is an official document that verifies the status of a trademark. If you do not have one, it can be difficult to prove that you are legally allowed to use your stage name.

To obtain a certificate of registration, file an application with the USPTO and pay $325 in fees—$275 for the filing fee plus $50 for publication (if required). If you have already registered another mark with the USPTO or provided notice of intent to use your trademark in commerce, there may be no need for publication. You will receive a notification by mail when your application has been accepted or rejected.

Takeaway

Trademarking a stage name is a way to protect yourself as an artist. It’s also a way to protect your intellectual property, both in and out of the music world. A trademark is an indicator of origin associated with certain products or services and can be used as a defense against someone stealing or infringing upon your brand.

Trademarks are typically registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for use within the United States, but some types of trademarks can be registered internationally as well.

Conclusion

If you plan on making your stage name an ongoing thing and want to protect it from being used by others, then you should consider trademarking it. Trademarking your stage name gives you the ability to stop people from using it or registering domain names that include your brand in them. It also allows you to use a ® symbol after it as well as file lawsuits against those who infringe upon your trademarked material or name.