ForumsStarting a Business

Hi Nat,

My domain name aviasphere.com is trademarked as aviasphere with a logo. If you are not doing a logo you own that domain name, no one else can use it on the web.
A trademark with a logo will help you build an online web presence and make sure that your product is recognized.

from Lectric Law: trademark defined:

"A word, a name, a symbol, a device, or a combination of them that indicates the source of goods or services. Distinguishes the products or services of one business from those of others in the same field. The owner/assignee/licensee of a trademark/mark has the right to exclude others from using that trademark/mark by being the first to use it in the marketplace. Rights in a trademark/mark are obtained only through commercial use of the mark. The owner of a trademark/mark has the right to exclude others unless the trademark/mark has been abandoned. "

Remember that you must be using it commercially. If you get the trademark and are not using it commercially, your attorney can get an extension for use automatically. If you don't file for this extension, then the trademark is abandoned and can be used by any one else.

Check with a trademark attorney, it usually takes 9-18 months, cost can range from 1500- 3000 dollars. Please remember that there are ins and outs on trademark and patent law that are not made available to clients using web enabled filing.

You own that url because you have paid for it in cyber space so the url would be your name to trademark. I would imagine that the process would be the same.

In addition to the .us, .org, etc, you might want to get any variants that you can imagine people typing in, like naturalelementsonline.com without the dashes or maybe online-natural-elements.

Try PrePaid Legal or your local bar association to get yourself an attorney. That's how folks find me when they need help.

You trademark a domain name by first using it as a trademark, then finding a TM attorney like myself and applying for registration. Call me at 9497866461 and I'll explain what I mean by use.

Check out the FAQs at the Brandwise Law Firm's web site at www.brandwiselaw.com. The site has a bunch of free information and they publish their rates.