One of the most important choices an entrepreneur must make when launching a new business is the name of the company. But it happens frequently for business owners to find out that the name they want is already taken. This raises the issue of whether two businesses can share the same name in various nations. The quick response is yes. As long as they serve distinct markets and don’t infringe on one another’s trademarks, two businesses can share the same name in separate nations. The fact that trademarks are territorial—i.e., that they only apply to the nation or region in which they are registered—should not be overlooked. As a result, if two businesses are not operating in the same market, they may have the same name in different nations.
Before registering your firm, it is advised that you run a name search to make sure your preferred name is not already in use. You can do this by looking through the trademark databases of the nations where you intend to conduct business. A name search will assist you in avoiding trademark infringement and safeguard your company from potential legal troubles.
Regarding this, it is not required to copyright your company’s name. Books, music, and other creative works are protected by copyrights, but business names are not covered by them. On the other hand, trademarks defend the company names, catchphrases, and logos.
You must trademark your company name in order to protect it against infringement. You will then have sole authority to use the name in the nation or area in where it is registered. If you intend to extend your business overseas, you should also think about registering your trademark in other nations.
An already existing company name can be difficult to trademark. In general, if a name is being used by another company in the same market, you cannot trademark it. You might be allowed to register the trademark in your market, though, if the other company uses the name in a separate market. To assist you in navigating the trademark registration procedure, it is advised that you speak with a trademark attorney.
So long as they serve distinct markets and do not infringe on one another’s trademarks, two businesses can use the same name in separate nations. Before registering your firm, do a name search to make sure it’s available, then register your business name as a trademark to protect it. Consult a trademark lawyer if you run into any legal problems relating to trademarks.