Should I copyright my band name?
Should I copyright my band name?
You cannot copyright a band name because copyrights only apply to original works, such as creating a song, rather than ideas or facts. Instead, you would trademark a band name as a way to distinguish your band from another one.
How much does it cost to trademark a band name and logo?
You can register the trademark online through the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS). As of 2015, the fee for filing a regular application is $325. A TEAS Reduced Fee application is $275, and a TEAS Plus application is $225.
Can I use a band name that already taken?
If you try to register a trademark that’s already taken, not only do you not get the trademark, but the filing fees will not be refunded. If someone is using your ideal band name and they haven’t trademarked it, you can still get the trademark for that name to use it for your band.
Are band logos trademarked?
While it is possible to copyright the design of a band logo, the band name itself is not copyrightable. Band names are protectable under trademark law, because like brand names they allow us to distinguish one band’s music and identity from another.
Do I trademark or copyright a name?
A trademark represents your brand or product. Names, logos, and slogans are common trademarks. A copyright, on the other hand, protects a work of authorship, including books, paintings, and even computer code. To ensure intellectual property is protected, work with your attorney to obtain a federal registration.
How can I protect my band name?
How to Legally Trademark a Band Name
- Know what you want to register.
- Decide who will own the trademark.
- Decide what you wish to protect.
- Perform a search.
- Complete the application.
- Submit your filing fee.
- Check the status.
- Keep your trademark alive.
How do you copyright a band name for free?
Visit the United States Patent and Trademark Office online to do a trademark search. You need to make sure no one has already trademarked your band name before you can trademark the name yourself. Click on “Search Marks,” “Word and/or Design Marks” and enter your band’s name.
How do I copyright a band name?
Do bands trademark their name?
Band names are protectable under trademark law, because like brand names they allow us to distinguish one band’s music and identity from another. Besides obtaining registration of a service mark, a band may also register its name as a trademark if it is associated with specific merchandise, such as record albums.
Can I sell shirts with band logos?
Yes you need to get permission. The band’s name is their “servicemark” and their logos is their “copyright”, almost certainly.
How do I copyright a logo for free?
Filing a Copyright Registration Application Go to the U.S. Copyright Office website. Select “Electronic Copyright Registration” to fill in the Form VA online for registration of a work of Visual Arts. Name the creator of the logo and include contact information for the owner. Many logos are works for hire.
