Ok, I need to know how to get a trademark, copyright, patent .....

tigerwoods99

Ok, I need to know how to go through with this process for my company that I am about to start. I am 18 and I think the age to get one is 18 so Im cool on that. I just need to know who to contact to get this stuff in palce. It's important that I get this stuff copyrighted.

stroszek

[quote]Originally posted by TigerWoods99:

<strong>Ok, I need to know how to go through with this process for my company that I am about to start. I am 18 and I think the age to get one is 18 so Im cool on that. I just need to know who to contact to get this stuff in palce. It's important that I get this stuff copyrighted.</strong><hr></blockquote>



I don't know anything about it, but I would start by reading the

<a href="http://www.loc.gov/copyright/"; target="_blank">United States Copyright Office web page</a>.

stroszek

<a href="http://www.uspto.gov/"; target="_blank">United States Patent and Trademark Office</a> might be of interest too.



[ 04-02-2002: Message edited by: Stroszek ]</p>

tigerwoods99

Good lookin out.

jeffyboy

Can you tell us what kind of business you're going into without tipping your hand too much?



Jeff

seb

What are you trying to get a patent on?

marcuk

I think he's trying to patent his rapping. I bet his comapny is flogging his CD's outta his trunk!

tigerwoods99

No, I'm not rapping . I actually haven't registered a domain name yet. I definitely am very shortly for our website. What I can tell you is that it does tie in with the comment about rapping. I have a lot of good ideas so I cant really get into detail, but I'm not going to have the company based in one direction. I will be approaching BET with the first idea though. Me and my friend thought about starting a company, but his interest snt really there. Im finally getting this thing off the ground and will be helped by my buddy in New York. I'm actually very serious about this. I think the only thing I need is to get letters, logos, whatever trademarked and material copyrighted.



It will be a hip-hop trend like no other. My gf doesnt wanna be seen with me in the shirt that Im making to let people know about us.

tigerwoods99

Oh yeah, how do I register a domain and how much will it cost me?

seb

go to <a href="http://www.google.com"; target="_blank">www.google.com</a> and type in "how do I register a domain name".



There are a ton of options.

ghost_user_name

The patent office is for inventions. Doesn't sound like you are inventors.

splinemodel

Some decent web hosting and registration is about 600 a year.



Of course, my decent may not be your decent, or vice versa.

tigerwoods99

Christ! Any way I can buy now pay later on that? lol

mike

[quote]Originally posted by tonton:

<strong>Trademarks do not need to be registered. A non-registered trade mark can be accompanied by the ? symbol (TM). Just make sure no one else in a similar business is using the same TM and you'll be okay. If business takes off you can go through the registration process with the patents office.</strong><hr></blockquote>



This is erroneous advice and certainly is not legal. We just met with our attorney to discuss this same issue. You MAY NOT use the TM or ® logo WITHOUT registering it. If you do, you are actually breaking the law!



May I suggest spending the $500.00 or so dollars to meet with a good attorney for an hour to understand the process and reasons why you should or shouldn't do what you want to do.



Copyrights are very powerful, patents can be very dangerous if you figured out how to do something that others have been unable to figure out.



I hope this helps a little bit.

graphiteman

[quote]Originally posted by Mike:

<strong>



This is erroneous advice and certainly is not legal. We just met with our attorney to discuss this same issue. You MAY NOT use the TM or ® logo WITHOUT registering it. If you do, you are actually breaking the law!



May I suggest spending the $500.00 or so dollars to meet with a good attorney for an hour to understand the process and reasons why you should or shouldn't do what you want to do.



Copyrights are very powerful, patents can be very dangerous if you figured out how to do something that others have been unable to figure out.



I hope this helps a little bit.</strong><hr></blockquote>



Could you explain farther? What is the difference between a Trademark (?) and a Registered Trademark (®)? Why do you have to register regular trademarks?

tigerwoods99

Thanks for the info. I actually was going to inquire about getting a trademark so I wouldnt have any problems anywayz. No way I can afford to meet with an attorney, but I will file my request for a registered trademark.

tigerwoods99

So the R (I dont know how to do the synbol) for a registered trademark? What I am wanting is my company logo to be protected so nobody else can use the letters & symbol associated with it. LIke for instance I was looking on Eastbay's website and here is a Maryland Nike cap, and right below the Maryland Terrapin logo is a TM. I would think this would registered also however.



I am working on final logo designs, and I am going to ask you guys for an opinion on which one should make the cut.



Also, does anyone know how the f*ck I would get a logo I create on my computer onto a t-shirt? Or even image/drawings I make?



Once I make our first thing to get the message out, I will post pics of it too.



Thank you for all your assistance.

tigerwoods99

Oh, and does it cost money to get something trademarked/copyrighted?

ghost_user_name

I would suggest trying to find a small business counseling center in your area. Most cities have them... a friend of mine in Atlanta works for one, and I've seen ads for them here in Boston. Basically, retired executives and lawyers or what not will sit down with you and talk about all of this, help you devise a strategy, advise you, etceteras. It's also free for you to use.



I think this would be the proper route to go prior to doing anything serious. They'll be able to help you put things in order and get everything in line. So give that a shot first...

tigerwoods99

Question. Do I have to have a finalized product for me to trademark if I want one? I'm in the process of working on the logo, but I want to declare for a trademark ASAP. So can I declare now and send things later?

ghost_user_name

heh, did anyone ever think about maybe going to the US Patent and Trademark Office's web site? You can do the whole thing online...



<a href="http://www.uspto.gov/teas/"; target="_blank">http://www.uspto.gov/teas/</a>;