Comments on: should I copyright my ideas? http://mlblogo.com/should-i-copyright-my-ideas.htm Mon, 21 May 2012 07:21:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: Teekno http://mlblogo.com/should-i-copyright-my-ideas.htm/comment-page-1#comment-28675 Teekno Tue, 16 Aug 2011 23:43:12 +0000 http://mlblogo.com/should-i-copyright-my-ideas.htm#comment-28675 You can't copyright an idea, only an artistic work. You can trademark a slogan, but only if you're actually using it. You can't "stake a claim" to a name or a slogan to use years later. If you want to protect it, you'll have to start doing business now. You can’t copyright an idea, only an artistic work.

You can trademark a slogan, but only if you’re actually using it. You can’t "stake a claim" to a name or a slogan to use years later. If you want to protect it, you’ll have to start doing business now.

]]> By: bcnu http://mlblogo.com/should-i-copyright-my-ideas.htm/comment-page-1#comment-28674 bcnu Tue, 16 Aug 2011 23:43:12 +0000 http://mlblogo.com/should-i-copyright-my-ideas.htm#comment-28674 Under U.S. law you can file an "intent to use" trademark application, which reserves your rights from the date of filing but does not become a registered mark until after you certify that you are actually using it (assuming it passes all the other registration requirements as well). You can go online at the Patent and Trademark website, look up the rules and procedures, fill out the forms, upload a sample, and file online in a matter of minutes. It may take months (or even longer) to get the registration, even if there are no problems (such as conflicts with other similar brands or other statutory reasons). You may also file in each STATE where you sell your goods or services and this can sometimes be much more quick and cheap, to have some proof of your registration date against people who want to use something similar after yours catches on. Then there is the complication of whether you may need any international protection, which varies by country, but for which there are additional filings necessary. If you have a valuable slogan/brand, you would be well advised to obtain valuable legal advice on your particular situation from a local lawyer. Under U.S. law you can file an "intent to use" trademark application, which reserves your rights from the date of filing but does not become a registered mark until after you certify that you are actually using it (assuming it passes all the other registration requirements as well). You can go online at the Patent and Trademark website, look up the rules and procedures, fill out the forms, upload a sample, and file online in a matter of minutes. It may take months (or even longer) to get the registration, even if there are no problems (such as conflicts with other similar brands or other statutory reasons).

You may also file in each STATE where you sell your goods or services and this can sometimes be much more quick and cheap, to have some proof of your registration date against people who want to use something similar after yours catches on.

Then there is the complication of whether you may need any international protection, which varies by country, but for which there are additional filings necessary. If you have a valuable slogan/brand, you would be well advised to obtain valuable legal advice on your particular situation from a local lawyer.

]]>