[Mr Fred]

any clues?

I good google it but it might be useful for someone else.

Cheers.

[Stickman]

Basically:

1) Do a search to see if there are any conflicts now or in near future.
2) Register your trademark.

Once it's registered you can use ® which is better than ™ as it means it's registered to you as a trademark, whereas ™ means you're claiming it as your trademark under common law.

Can't remember how much it costs. And I'm not a lawyer.

[seen.to]

Originally Posted by JapanMik

any clues?

I good google it but it might be useful for someone else.

Cheers.

It's about 8 years since I last looked into this so my answer is probably lame and should be ignored or picked to pieces.

Some things can't be trademarked, such as generic names like cunt, wanker, orange etc. Combinations of words such as the new Orange Cunt Wanker™ from Bonko™ can be. Uniquely spelled words can be trademarked so you could probably trademark Kunt or Wankah - This could be why Kraft isn't called Craft although they do own the ®egistered Trade Mark too. This could also be why George W. Bush isn't called Prick - well at least not to his face. You can apply for a ®egistered Trade Mark on generic terms, (and pay a huge fee for the privilege), but only when they pertain to a specific industry or product, e.g. only Orange can use the name in the mobile phone industry but they can't sue fruit producers and only Tony Blair can use the term Wanker as prime minister (cunt is open for them all to use tho).

You must display your new trademark, complete with the ™ symbol, on everything - When I researched this shit all those years ago there was nothing about electronic usage and the rules stated that you must publicly display your trademark on your stationery if it's a company name or on your product if it's a product or literature about your service etc for two years after which time you can claim it as your trademark. Keep evidence that your trademark has been made publicly known in case some twat tries to steal it - and they do mean publicly known... You can't write FatCunt™ on your arse where only your doctor and your dog will see it then expect to steal the trademark from Claire Short in 2 years time.

As far as electronic stuff is concerned I'm too lazy to look into it which makes this reply pretty useless but I needed the typing practice.

E&OE

[mark]

Got to the Patent Office and register.

Costs from around £350.00 if I remember rightly.

I am thinking of trademarking the business name & logotype so will let ya know if there are any problems/foibles to the process.

[strawbleu]

Don't forget, however that trademarking is for those who are worried about people passing themselves off as you. It's not about protecting intellectual copyright on your logo - that can be achieved just as easily by getting your bank manager to stamp and sign a copy of your letterhead.
Also trademarks aren't necessarily universal (either geographic or across markets). If you are considering trademarking I'd suggest you speak to an Intellctual Property legal adviser. (Leeds Business Link offers limited free access to solicitors, maybe your local one does too)

[mark]

True enough, but if you trademark a business name then it will prevent others working in your sector from appropriating that name (or derivation of) and trading under it.

This should prevent passing off and confusion in the market place.