Basic Trademark info

[perdog05]

Hello all,

I've started a new website, but have a ton of trademark questions (to go along with all the other questions I have about starting a new site).

I've been to the government trademark site, but it's a little overwhelming. Does anyone have any good links for general internet trademark info?

Thanks in advance.

[Mia]

You can't/don't trademark web sites. You copyright them. You can do this by visiting the US Library of Congress Copyright Office (http://lcweb.loc.gov/copyright/) (http://lcweb.loc.gov/copyright/%29).

Trademarks are for "marks", as the name implies, such as a logo that you might have on your web site. The US Government's trademark site is not overwhelming. It is quite a simple process. You file a form to do a "search" which is done to insure that no one else has the mark you are trying to trademark. You pay a fee (around $250 or so), and then wait.

What is ultimately overwhelming is the waiting process, approval time, and that fact that you can easily be rejected. Trademarks are a PITA IMHO, unless you seriously need one I would not bother. The simpler, but more expensive route is to higher a trademark attorney to do it for you.

[Ryan]

You can offically put the (TM) mark on things you want to trade mark. However, they will not stand up in any legal issue. Unless you really need a copyright or a trademark, I wouldn't go for one.


Ryan