Tuesday, August 23, 2022
1. Do you trademark or copyright a logo?
You trademark a logo. Logos are trademarked. You protect a logo by trademarking it. With a logo trademark, you can prevent competitors from using your logo in connection with their products or services. Logos are not copyrighted.
If you have a logo, and you want to protect it, then you need a trademark. Famous examples of trademarked logos are the McDonald’s “Golden Arches” and the Nike “Swoosh.”
When a logo is trademarked, competitors will not be permitted to offer products or services under the same logo or anything similar.
Logo = trademark
2. Do you trademark or copyright a name?
You trademark a name. Names are trademarked. You protect a brand name by trademarking it. With a name trademark, you can prevent competitors from using your name in connection with their products or services. Names are not copyrighted.
If you have a product and want to protect the name, you would need a trademark. Famous examples of name trademarks include IPHONE® and BIG MAC®.
When a name is trademarked, competitors will not be permitted to offer products or services under the same name or anything similar.
Name = trademark
3. Do you trademark or copyright a business name?
You trademark a business name. Business names are trademarked. You protect the name of a business by trademarking it. With a name trademark, you can prevent competitors from using your business name in connection with their products or services. Business names are not copyrighted.
If you have a business and want to protect its name, you would need a trademark. Famous examples of trademarks for business names include GOOGLE®, APPLE®, and COKE®.
When a business name is trademarked, competitors will not be permitted to offer products or services under the same name or anything similar.
Business name = trademark
4. Do you trademark or copyright a phrase?
You trademark a phrase. Phrases are trademarked. You protect a phrase by trademarking it. With a trademark, you can prevent competitors from using your phrase in connection with their products or services. Phrases are not copyrighted.
If you have a service and want to protect a phrase that you use to brand it, you would need a trademark. Famous examples of trademarks for phrases include DON’T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT® and WHAT’S IN YOUR WALLET?®.
When a phrase is trademarked, competitors will not be permitted to offer products or services under the same phrase or anything similar.
Phrase = trademark
5. Do you trademark or copyright a slogan?
You trademark a slogan. Slogans are trademarked. You protect the slogan of a business by trademarking it. With a trademark, you can prevent competitors from using your slogan in connection with their products or services. Slogans are not copyrighted.
Well-known examples of slogans for businesses include and Apple’s THINK DIFFERENT® and McDonald’s I’M LOVIN’ IT®.
When a slogan is trademarked, competitors will not be permitted to offer products or services under the same slogan or anything similar.
Slogan = trademark
6. Do you trademark or copyright a stage name?
You trademark a stage name. Stage names are trademarked. You protect a stage name by trademarking it. With a stage name trademark, you can prevent competitors from using your stage. Stage names are not copyrighted.
If you have a stage name that you want to protect, you would need a trademark. Famous examples of trademarks for stage names include LADY GAGA, DRAKE, SPIKE LEE.
Stage name = trademark
About Michael Kondoudis
For more than twenty years, Michael Kondoudis has been the go-to trademarking expert for businesses of all shapes and sizes. Michael is a USPTO-licensed trademark and patent attorney, educator, speaker, and author of the Amazon best-seller: Going From Business to Brand. He is also an authority trusted by national news media on major trademark stories involving NFTs and the Metaverse. For more information, visit www.mekiplaw.com.