How do I own my own name?

How do you trademark a name? You can file an application to register your trademark online. Your application must specify the goods or services associated with your name, and your trademark will extend only to those goods or services.

How do you get ownership of a name?

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.

How much does it cost to copyright a name?

Fees to trademark a business name

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.

What is it called when you own your name?

Registering vs Trademarking Your Name

A Trademark is a federal government registration, protecting your brand in the U.S. through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. To make sure someone else doesn't use your name—or the name of your business—you must trademark that name.

Can you copyright your personal name?

No. Names are not protected by copyright law. Some names may be protected under trademark law.

When You DON'T Have to Give Your Name

How can I copyright my name for free?

There is no way to register a name trademark for free because you will always have to pay at least a small fee that covers the costs of examining and processing your trademark application. There is no way to get a federal trademark for free.

Can I trademark my full name?

Because personal names fall into a trademark category known as “descriptive” marks, you usually can't register your name as a trademark unless you can also show that it has “secondary meaning,,” which is usually acquired through advertising or long use.

Can I give myself a new name?

If you choose to change your name legally, you'll need to file for a name change with your local court. Depending on where you live this could be online or in person.

Why is it important to own a name?

Our names are an incredibly important part of our identity. They carry deep personal, cultural, familial, and historical connections.

Can I name myself anything?

You can name yourself almost anything, with a few important exceptions. State law governs what you can name yourself. While you can name yourself some pretty unique things, there are a few concrete rules about name changes by which you must abide.

Is it hard to copyright a name?

You can't copyright a name. You can copyright written artistic works (like books), but not names or phrases.

Can you copyright a name without a business?

You can't register a trademark for non-business purposes. You can only trademark a brand name that you're using in business or that you intend to use in business in the near future. You can't register a generic or descriptive name. Your trademark name has to be distinctive or unique in some way to be approved.

Do I trademark or copyright a name?

A trademark typically protects brand names and logos used on goods and services. A patent protects an invention. A copyright protects an original artistic or literary work.

What are the 3 legal forms of ownership?

The most common forms of business are the sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, and S corporation.

What is my name legally?

Your legal name is the name you're generally called and known by. It is common ground that a surname in common law is simply the name by which a person is generally known[.]

What does trademarking a name mean?

According to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), a trademark is “a word, phrase, symbol, and/or design that identifies and distinguishes the source of the goods of one party from those of the others.” It's a legal protection you can use to take legal action against an entity if they're ...

Should I use my name for LLC?

So, if you want to establish your company, it is essential to keep yourself personally connected to your brand. When you name an LLC after yourself, it serves as the best way to merge your identity with your business while getting all the legal securities offered by an LLC.

What is the power in a name?

A name, or identity, is a powerful thing. It is a descriptor that allows people to make quick judgments and assumptions about us. While we can understand the harm of assumptions, for the human mind it is a fast way to categorize a lot of information in a short amount of time.

Should I use my name as a brand?

It increases a sense of connection.

Using your own name for your business means that your clients and customers know exactly who they'll be working with — and they'll also have an easier time doing some research into your background and qualifications.

How much does it cost to change your name in real life?

What Fees Are Involved To Change a Name? Name changes cost anywhere from under $100 to more than $500, depending on your state. In many states, fees vary in each county, so check with your local probate, family, or district court clerk. Many states still have fees well under $100.

Can I have two names legally?

Its perfectly legal to have more than one name. As rightly mentioned above they are known as aliases.

What are the consequences of changing your name?

Consequences to Changing Your Name

There can be professional consequences that can be problematic. For instance, all of your bank accounts and credit cards will need to be updated, as well as your driver's license and passport, which means you'll have a lot of paperwork to fill out.

Is Trademarking a name worth it?

Having a registered trademark can save you from facing the costs of reprinting your business cards, stationery, advertising and signs, when another company already has a similar or the very same name. It prevents confusion and the loss of customers who can no longer find your business, due to an unexpected name change.

What names Cannot be trademarked?

How long does trademarking a name take?

Usually, the process takes 12 to 18 months. Registering your trademark is a complex procedure that involves your application moving through various stages. Learning about each stage in the process will help you understand why getting a trademark takes as long as it does.