Can i trademark a name if someone else is using it [Detailed Response]

Last updated : Aug 14, 2022

Can I copyright a name being used?

No. Names are not protected by copyright law. Some names may be protected under trademark law. Contact the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, TrademarkAssistanceCenter@uspto.gov or see Circular 33 "Copyright Protection Not Available for Names, Titles, or Short Phrases".

What if someone is using my trademark name?

The first step is to contact an attorney specializing in trademark law. He or she will help you through the next steps: Trademark issues typically begin by sending a cease-and-desist letter to the infringing business and demanding that they stop using your mark.

Can there be two trademarks with the same name?

The short answer is, “it depends.” It depends on (1) Whether the other business is in the same industry; (2) Whether the other business is in the same geographical market; (3) Who was using the mark first; and (4) Who registered the trademark first.

Can you trademark a phrase already in use?

To trademark a phrase locally, you must already be using the phrase publicly. You can apply for a nationwide trademark with the USPTO. With the USPTO you can apply with the "intent to use." Phrases eligible for trademark registration include catch phrases, taglines, slogans, and mottos.

What names can you not trademark?

• Proper names or likenesses without consent from the person.
• Generic terms, phrases, or the like.
• Government symbols or insignia.
• Vulgar or disparaging words or phrases.
• The likeness of a U.S. President, former or current.
• Immoral, deceptive, or scandalous words or symbols.
• Sounds or short motifs.

Can you trademark something you didn't create?

Updated November 12, 2020: If you're wondering, "can you trademark something that already exists," the simple answer is "no." Generally speaking, if somebody has used a trademark before you, you can't register the trademark for yourself.

How long do trademark last What can I do if somebody is using my trademark?

Section 135 of the Act provides relief in the civil suit of trademark infringement. The court can grant a permanent injunction preventing/restraining the person from using the registered trademark. The court can also award for paying the damages caused by the unauthorised usage of trademarks.

Can you sue someone for using your trademark name?

A trademark owner who believes its mark is being infringed may file a civil action (i.e., lawsuit) in either state court or federal court for trademark infringement, depending on the circumstances. However, in most cases, trademark owners choose to sue for infringement in federal court.

Can a company sue you for having the same name?

Trademark Registration Then, the owner can face a lawsuit for using the same name as someone else even if the second party registered a trademark for the company after the first owner created the company. These situations usually require the services of a lawyer to both understand and pursue.

How much does it cost to trademark a saying?

If you have ever asked yourself how much does it cost to trademark a phrase, according to the current fee schedule on the USPTO, trademark registration fees cost $275 per mark per class. If you need an attorney's assistance, the cost averages around $1,000 to $2,000.

Can your business have the same name as another?

When you're forming a corporation or an LLC in a state, the name must be unique to your business within that state. Others can form LLCs and businesses in other states that have the same name as yours. If you want to protect your business name across all states, you will need to trademark it.

What do you do when another business has the same name?

In most cases, when two businesses with the same or similar names are operating in overlapping markets and locations, the conflict will be handled through an administrative proceeding with the US Patent and Trademark Office or with a lawsuit brought by one of the owners.

Can you trademark a name without a business?

You can't register a trademark for non-business purposes. You can only trademark a brand name that you're using in business or that you intend to use in business in the near future.

When should you trademark a name?

In most cases, the best time to file a trademark application for your business name is right after you've filed paperwork to form your LLC or corporation. By doing this before your business officially launches, it protects the name for commercial use once you're up and running.

How long is a trademark protected?

The term of trademark registration can vary, but is usually ten years. It can be renewed indefinitely on payment of additional fees. Trademark rights are private rights and protection is enforced through court orders. What kinds of trademark can be registered?

Can I use a name for a business that already exists?

Can I use a business name if it exists in another state? All may not be lost. You can often use the same business name in your own state or another state, if it is not in the state where the business name is filed, and it doesn't violate trademark rules. This is common practice for smaller local businesses.

How do I keep someone from using my business name?

Your brand is your company's identity, so it's critical to secure it with a trademark, which prevents someone from improperly using your business name or branding. To get a trademark, you'll need to file an application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

Is there a yearly fee for a trademark?

3. Filing Declaration of Use and Application for Renewal every 10 years (Combined §8 declaration and §9 renewal): $525 per class (if filed before the grace period).

What is the difference between copyright and trademark?

Copyright protects original work, whereas a trademark protects items that distinguish or identify a particular business from another. Copyright is generated automatically upon the creation of original work, whereas a trademark is established through common use of a mark in the course of business.

How much is it to patent a name?

The basic cost to trademark a business name ranges from $225 to $600 per trademark class. This is the cost to submit your trademark application to the USPTO. The easiest and least expensive way to register your trademark is online, through the USPTO's Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS).

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can you get a trademark if someone else is already using your name the answer is maybe just maybe it depends upon a few things let's talk about them first if someone else is already using your name but they don't have a registered trademark then you just might be in luck so let's say that you've been operating I don't know Sam sandwich shop and is another Sam sandwich shop in some other part of the country or the world that's been using their name longer than you if they didn't file for trademark protection first you can still race them to the trademark office file your application and possibly get your trademark rights first so just because someone else is already using your name even if it's in connection with the same business as you you could still obtain trademark protection but what if someone has already filed for trademark protection for their name before you and has trademark rights can you still get trademark protection the answer is still maybe alright I'm chock full of good news today so two companies with the same name can both have trademark rights so long as they have different types of goods or services this might surprise people because you may think that once you have a trademark you get a monopoly or exclusive rights to use your name but that's not the case you only get exclusive rights within the same classes or categories or types of goods and services that you offer so think about Delta the airline and Delta the water faucet company both are called Delta both have trademarks and they're allowed to do so because consumers aren't really confused they don't think that the same company that flies planes also helps you get water from your sink so if you have a name that you want to get protected but you're worried because you see somebody else is out there online using it or you know that they have a registered trademark you're not dead in the water yet by contacting a trademark attorney they can run what's called a trademark clearance search and be able to determine one what is your likelihood of success of getting a trademark based upon what other trademarks have been filed before you or what roadblocks might exist for you obtaining trademark protection and by having that information you and your trademark attorney can come up with a plan of how to protect your business name or logo and get all those wonderful and exclusive rights that come with trademark protection but you might be thinking Ethan what are these wonderful benefits that come with getting a trademark I'd love to tell you about them but you've already been watching this video for like two and a half minutes so instead I invite you to visit trademark Tuesday's com where you can download our free guide called how to protect and grow your business or brand with trademarks and it's going to provide you with answers to all common questions about trademarks such as what is the trademark process what are the benefits or what will happen if someone else uses my name so visit trademark Tuesdays dot-com download your free guide and get all those juicy answers to those tough trademark questions that you've been thinking about there's actually coffee in this cup okay not much less but you were thinking I was faking it uh-huh it's coffee it's cold but there's coffee

Thanks for your comment Gracia Gurrola, have a nice day.
- Quinn Kristen, Staff Member

if you find out that someone else is using your trademark or something very similar to your trademark and they're in a similar line of business or work then there are several steps that you want to take and really the first most important step is to stop to slow down don't do anything on your own don't reach out to the other company talk to a trademark attorney and the reason is you want to evaluate whether this is a legitimate claim whether they really are using your mark in a manner that would confuse consumers whether they are a competitor in either your industry or a related industry of products and services and you want to make sure that you have the dominant rights and so it doesn't backfire what I mean is if they were somehow using it first and you just didn't know about it contacting them could actually backfire if you contact XYZ and say we think that you're copying our trademark and we demand you stop and they write back and they say well actually we agree that these are confusing but here's proof that we were using it first now you've actually just created a problem for yourself instead of solved the problem so you want to make sure that you get the foundation understood in terms of what the facts are before you take action and if you haven't registered your mark yet you want to most likely at least start the application process before you reach out to and contact the other business because if they file before you at the USPTO that will just cause even more problems and complicate and make the situation even more expensive if this situation is international it may change the perspective here and the options and him you may not even have any rights depending on whether you've done business internationally so that's another factor that you want to consider before taking any action

Thanks watswitlife23n your participation is very much appreciated
- Quinn Kristen

About the author

Quinn Kristen

I've studied registrar at Clarkson College in Omaha and I am an expert in multivariate analysis. I usually feel aggravated. My previous job was physical education instructor I held this position for 28 years, I love talking about knife throwing and ocarina playing. Huge fan of Ashley Benson I practice horse racing and collect buttons.