Introduction
Trademarks are a form of intellectual property that protect words, phrases and designs used by business to identify their goods or services. Trademark registration is commonly used in marketing and branding efforts because they help consumers identify one business from another.
A trademark protects the source identity of your goods or services.
A trademark is a word, phrase, symbol or design that serves to identify and distinguish the source of goods from others. In order to register your mark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), you will need to:
- Determine if the mark is eligible for registration under the federal laws governing trademarks
- Conduct a thorough search of all possible conflicting marks before filing an application for registration
In order to be eligible for federal trademark protection, a proposed mark must be “used in commerce.” This means that it must actually be used as a source identifier in connection with goods or services.
To apply for trademark, you should file for a trademark application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). It costs $275 per class of goods and services you wish to protect. It will take approximately 6 months to process your application and receive your certificate in the mail.
The USPTO is a government agency that handles trademark applications; they are responsible for reviewing all new trademarks submitted by consumers like yourself.
The next step to trademark your name is to use it in interstate commerce. This means that you can’t limit it to sales within the state where you live. However, you don’t have to do business in all 50 states either. For example, a person who lives in Maine and sells his books online through Amazon would be considered doing business across state lines since he uses their website as part of the selling process (and they are headquartered in Seattle).
The final requirement for a federal trademark is that the mark must not be functional or descriptive of the underlying goods or services. In other words, if your product or service has any specific functional benefit (such as being waterproof), then you cannot protect that aspect of it with a trademark because it’s too close to describing what makes them unique!
You can get a federal trademark for your name by registering it with the USPTO.
If you’re an individual, then you can’t trademark your name. You also can’t trademark a business name or brand if it’s not being used for commercial purposes. However, if you want to protect your slogan or logo for use in advertising and marketing, then these are considered “marks,” which are eligible for federal registration with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
A design can be registered as a trademark if it is both distinctive and non-functional, while a slogan must be short and possess some degree of creativity to qualify as intellectual property. The USPTO will review applications on a case-by-case basis when determining whether or not they’re eligible under federal law.
Can you trademark a personal name?
You can trademark a personal name, but there are some things to consider.
- Trademarking a personal name involves filing an application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
- If you’re not using it in connection with goods or services, you might be able to register the mark on an Intent-to-Use basis.
- The USPTO won’t grant a trademark if your proposed mark is generic or descriptive of your goods and services. For example, if you own a dog grooming business and want to call it “Dog Grooming,” this would likely be rejected because “dog grooming” describes what your business does and is not unique enough for trademark protection.
What are the requirements to trademark a name?
Trademarking a name is not as simple as it sounds. You have to have a business name, or at least be planning to start one in the future, before you can trademark it. If you merely want to trademark your personal name, there are limitations on what can be done with that registered trademark.
As far as registering with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), you must first have a federal trademark before applying for one through them. For example, if someone has already registered “Apple” too many times in his/her region and doesn’t want anyone else using it anymore, then this may apply to you as well if someone assumes that they’re “first” on their own version of apple pie–which would mean that no one else should ever be allowed `to use any variation on the word “apple” again.”
When should you trademark a name?
If you plan to use your name as a brand for your business, product, or service, it’s important to consider trademarking it. A trademark is an indicator of origin by which one person’s goods or services can be distinguished from another’s. Trademark protection gives you the exclusive right to use and register the name in connection with specific products or services—you can’t allow someone else to use that same mark if he sells similar products or services.
There are two main reasons why someone might want their own unique mark:
- To protect their brand from infringement (and vice versa)
- To prevent others from using similar marks in their industry
If this sounds like something that could apply to you, here are some tips on what steps should be taken next:
You can trademark your name, but there are limitations to what you can patent and when.
You can trademark your name, but there are limitations to what you can patent and when.
If you have a business and want to protect the name of that business, then it’s possible to trademark your company name. However, if you just want the right to use a certain word or phrase as your personal identity (like “Kim Kardashian”), then this is not possible. In order for someone else to be able to use that same phrase in connection with their own business or product, they would need permission from Kim Kardashian herself—and as we all know by now she is not exactly known for her generosity!
Conclusion
US Trademark Filing is a good way to protect your name, but it’s not the only option. You can also register a trademark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). This will allow you to protect your mark from being used by others in interstate commerce, which is important because it means people won’t be able to sell products under your name without permission. In order to obtain this right over another person or company who may try using similar names or logos that could confuse customers into thinking they’re buying something directly from you when they aren’t actually affiliated with anyone related