Although you may have some trademark protection simply by using your name in business, registering a trademark with the USPTO extends your trademark rights nationwide?an important benefit if you do business online or in more than one state or locality.
While you can't copyright a business name, you can trademark a business name. The best practice is to hire a trademark lawyer to file the trademark on your behalf. In fact, you will increase your odds of a successful federal trademark registration by doing so.
Which form should I use? Online registration through the electronic Copyright Office (eCO) is the preferred way to register basic claims. Paper versions of Form TX (literary works); Form VA (visual arts works); Form PA (performing arts); Form SR (sound recordings) are available on the Copyright Office website.
Order forms and other publications from Library of Congress, Copyright Office- COPUBS, 101 Independence Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20559 or call (202) 707-9100 or 1-877-476-0778 (toll free). Access and download circulars and other information from the Copyright Office website at .copyright.gov.
Can I get a copyright for free? If you are a creator looking to obtain copyright for your creations, you may be surprised to learn that you automatically gain copyright for your original creative works from the moment that work is "fixed in a tangible form of expression."
Registering a trademark helps protect a name or brand from intellectual property theft or misuse as a business grows. You can start the trademarking process on the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's website. The application can be completed fairly quickly, but the entire process may take several months.
Can I trademark a name for free? No, you cannot register a trademark for free, but you can establish a common law trademark for free by using the name to brand your products. Common law trademarks are free and do not require any paperwork or forms.
When filing an application to trademark your business name on a federal level through the USPTO, you should count on paying between $250 and $750. ing to the USPTO website, the trademark fees you'll pay depend on: The number of trademarks you seek.