Rules for Business Names: Trademarks, Copyrights, and Sole Traders

What are the rules for business names?
Please register to keep reading. Avoid unusual spellings. When creating a name, stay with words that can easily be spelled by customers. Easy to pronounce and remember. Keep it simple. Make some sense. Give a clue. Make sure the name is available. Favor common suffixes. Don’t box yourself in.
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One of the first and most important stages when launching a new business is selecting a name. It’s not as easy as just coming up with a catchy name and writing it on a sign, though. There are laws and guidelines to abide by, such as policies on sole proprietorships, copyrights, and trademarks.

Can a Name That Is In Use But Not Registered Be Trademarked?

If the name hasn’t already been trademarked, you can submit an application to do so, which would grant you the sole right to use the name for your company. However, you might not be able to obtain a trademark if the name is already in use. Before submitting, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) advises completing a trademark check to make sure no other company has previously registered the name.

Can a Name Be Trademarked?

A trademark is a design, term, or phrase that serves to identify a good or service and set it apart from similar goods or services. If your company name is not already in use and complies with USPTO guidelines, you may trademark it. The name must be unique, which means it cannot be general or descriptive or confusingly similar to the name of another company. Do You Have Copyright on a Name? Books, music, and other creative works of art are all protected by copyrights. However, names are not protected by copyright. The only way to protect names is under trademark law. Only the name itself is protected by copyright law, not things like logos or phrases.

A Sole Proprietor Can Own Two Businesses.

A self-employed person who owns and operates their own firm is known as a lone trader. A sole proprietor can typically run many enterprises, but each one must have its own name and function separately. Additionally, the lone proprietor is required to register every business independently, secure any relevant licenses or permissions, and maintain separate books of account for every business.

In conclusion, picking a company name is a crucial first step in launching a new firm. But it’s crucial to abide by the laws, such as those governing sole proprietorship, copyrighting, and trademarking. You can defend your company and steer clear of potential legal problems by doing this.