Website Trademark or Copyright

**bizman13** · 09-23-2008 01:34 AM

Hi. i need some advise. I would like to protect a niche social networking site that is being developed. The thing is i am not sure if a copyright or trademark would be the best option.

If i copyright a website will this prevent people form using the url? Or the logo for that website?

Will i be able to use the website to sell ad space by just copyrighting ?

What do you suggest trademark or copyrighting and please say why if possible?

Thank You

**DennisChang** · 09-23-2008 02:27 AM

Originally Posted by bizman13

If i copyright a website will this prevent people form using the url? Or the logo for that website?

To prevent people from using a URL, you can simply register the domain name before other people do. As for logo, you can trademark it.

Originally Posted by bizman13

Will i be able to use the website to sell ad space by just copyrighting ?

No, you need to register the domain first. Copyright did nothing to grant you ownership of a website.

**BusinessAdviser** · 09-27-2008 08:32 PM

Copyright. It's not "which is best," it's that a copyright is the appropriate intellectual property for a website.

**mike95910** · 10-02-2008 11:20 AM

i am interested in this as well. Is it possible to copyright a website before it is done being built?? or do you need to apply for a copyright when it is finally finished? Also as the site changes do you need to update your copyrights?