applying for trademark

[RSI]

is it worth it to apply for a trademark on a domain? or will i just be wasting time and money? Is it expensive?

[harrymcwealth]

If your business is up and running, obtaining a trademark is a wise thing to do. However if you are merely in the planning stage and have not yet launched, it is not worth the money. The reason why is because you need to use your trademark in order to obtain and maintain it.

Currently I have a pending trademark on one of my "companies", which has not yet come into use under the outlined specifications. In other words if I do not use it, I will lose my right to obtain official registration (and my $300 filing fee).

You can however avoid the trademark process -- it takes a hell of a long time -- and just copyright your logo (officially or unofficially) and/or put a TM mark beside it, thereby establishing your trademark by means of common law. This is the el-cheapo route; however if you are trying to raise capita it is better to make everything official.

[harrymcwealth]

Oh sh*t I didn't see that you said it was for a domain. Stupid me. Uh, no it's probably not worth it. It's pretty expensive and it takes months and months to obtain. It's not as bad as the patent process of course.

[Young Spark]

The fact is that you have to think... trademarking in the U.S. is not going to trademark you across the world. You have to have your name trademarked in all countries which can get pretty costly.

If my mind serves me right, if you trademark your name, then you own that business name. To clear your question up... once you trademark your name, no other business can use the same name. I don't know if it was a Trademark or DBA, but one of them only allows you the right to use the name in your specific business sector. (Like say for instance, we both have the name "Petz Life" and our business have the same niche and everything, if you were to get the "Petz Life" DBA name, then I'd have to either switch names or change my business niche...)

Good luck...

[sicnarftea]

trademarking a domain would be very pointless, however if you trade mark you brand or logo of some sort, it would be alot better

you can just purchase your domain for 10 years and it'll be heaps cheaper

[Young Spark]

The fact of the matter is... I don't believe you can actually trademark a domain. You can trademark your name, once the name is trademarked then your domain is included as well.

[B.Sheehan]

One thing to consider is who holds the trademark. My firm has stakeholders through various classes of shares. I put the trademark in my personal name and license it to the actual corporation. That way if the company blows up and we all head into an expensive drawn out terrible legal battle I at least get to continue with the Brand.