Lesson 4 of 7
What a trademark is (and is not)
A trademark protects the names, logos and slogans that tell customers who a product or service comes from. It stops others from using a confusingly similar mark for related goods or services.
What a trademark is not
- Not a copyright. Copyright protects creative work like writing, music and art.
- Not a patent. Patents protect inventions.
- Not your LLC or business name filing. Registering a business with your state does not give you trademark rights to that name.
- Not a domain name. Owning the web address does not give you the trademark either.
In the United States, using a mark in business gives you some limited rights in your area. Registering it with the USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office) gives you nationwide rights and much stronger protection.