Blog and news
Best tips to start-ups on trademark and new business name
2012-01-13 11:43:21
In an interview with ArcticStartup I was asked to come up with my best tips to start-ups regarding trademark and their new business name:
1. Choose a name that can be trademarked.
Why? You will avoid conflicts, enable expansion and sleep better. There are two basic requirements on your new trademark:
a) It should not be generic in your business area. The name "CoolApps" is generic if you're going to deliver a new marketplace for apps.
b) No one else should be using a "confusingly similar" trademark in your potential markets. Start your search at markify.com for confusingly similar marks. Avoid all similar marks that are in your line of business. If you are uncertain, contact a trademark attorney.
2. Buy all relevant domain names.
a) For most international start-ups that means a .com. Don't only look for available domain names. Even if the domain name is taken, it often is for sale. Average prices for domain names at auctions are $500
b) Buy 5-10 typos.
c) Buy at least 5-10 country extensions (ccTLDs). Choose the biggest markets where you think you may expand.
3. Register the trademark in your primary market.
In Europe choose the Pan-European CTM trademark, which covers 27 EU countries for a fee of 850 Euros.
In the US a USPTO trademark costs $325.
4. Watch and protect your trademark.
If there is a new confusingly similar application you should act upon it. So sign up for a free trademark watch at Markify.
Don't hesitate to contact me if you think I can help
In this blog I will mostly write about two subjects:
1. Trademarks, domain names, naming and branding - Four separate areas that often are not that separate.
2. Markify news - Features, markets, pricing, challenges etc.
Feedback and questions are always welcome. Email me at benoit@markify.com.
Categories
Tags
-
common law
-
CIPO database
Canadian trademark database
-
EU trademarks
best price
-
low price
ccTLDs
-
similar domain names
infringing domain names
-
brand monitoring
brand monitor
-
marketing
exhibitor
-
trade shows
INTA
-
new gTLDs
domain name watch
-
popular trademarks
US trademark application
-
ROMARIN
Madrid protocol
-
Madrid system
WIPO
-
trademark attorneys
EU trademark registration
-
domain name monitoring
Monitor trademark classes
-
Competitor monitoring
Owner monitoring
-
trademark monitoring
Full availability
-
US common law
trademark words
-
Legal software
Docketing
-
Law firm
OHIM
-
API
US trademark registration
-
confusingly similar trademarks
free trademark watch
-
USPTO
CTM
-
EU trademark
business name
-
naming
PR
-
democracy
presidential candidates
-
fast brand building
build brand
-
brand recognition
global brands
-
new brand
differentiation
-
branding
venture capital
-
business model
url
-
gTLDs
.com
-
domains
ICANN
-
big brands
trademarks
-
New tlds
TLDs
-
Top Level Domains
comprehensive trademark search
-
trademark algorithm
angels
-
vc
european angels
-
fundraising
Europe
-
seed capital
trademark infringement
-
trademark registration
entrepreneurs
-
trademark similarity
free trademark search
-
trademark watch
names
-
start-ups
domain name
-
trademark
availability search
-
likelihood of confusion
similar trademarks
-
domain name search
trademark search
We would really appreciate your feedback! feedback@markify.com General questions to: support@markify.com