trademarks

[pac-it-out]

does anyone know the course of action for trademark registration and what the cost may be???

[♥mdtaylorlrim]

does anyone know the course of action for trademark registration and what the cost may be???

Go here...

 

http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/process/index.jsp

 

Don't confuse trademarks and patents with copyrights.

[Mailware]

First, determine which form of intellectual property you need to register. Your options are either trademarks, patents, or copyrights. Once you determine this, apply online at the United States Patent and Trademark office website. Costs for trademarks will vary and you will need to check the schedule of when you need to renew your registered form of intellectual property.

[MrPhil]

There are two flavors of trademarks. A registered trademark costs around 400 or 500 dollars, and is registered with the USPTO. You get to display the little R-in-circle registered trademark sign ®. Your trademark can be a word or name, or it can be some sort of graphical symbol. There is a lesser trademark, indicated by ™. I believe that this has to be registered at the state level (at a lower cost). In either case, once you claim a trademark, it's good for as long as you periodically renew the registration, provided you watch for infringers and take measures to "defend" your mark. The USPTO site is a good place to start, and can link you to your state's trademark information.

 

There are also "Service Marks" which apply to services rather than products, "Protected" mark which applies to musical recordings (sort of like a copyright), and probably a whole bunch of other stuff, in addition to patents and trademarks. Copyrights (handled by the Library of Congress, I believe) are automatic and free simply be creating a work, but can be formally registered for extra protection. Patents (which can include, to the detriment of society, genes, business methods, and software algorithms) are VERY expensive and have a short lifespan compared to the cost.