TRADEMARK & BUSINESS ARTICLES

This blog is about How to Copyright a Phrase in Florida You cannot copyright a phrase in Florida, or in any other state. The US Copyright Office does not register short phrases, names, titles, or slogans. A commercial tagline is protected by trademark law instead, through the USPTO or the Florida Department of State. The rule catches out a lot of business owners. This guide covers how to copyright a phrase in Florida, why the answer is no, and which filing actually secures a

This blog is about Does a Florida Fictitious Name Search Prove You Own the Name A Florida fictitious name search does not prove you own a name. Registering a fictitious name mainly serves to place the business name on the public record. It creates no trademark rights, and Florida will register the same name to more than one business. That surprises owners who filed a DBA and assumed the name was theirs. This guide covers what a Florida fictitious name search really shows, wha

This blog is about Can You Patent a Business Name in Florida You cannot patent a name in Florida, or anywhere else in the United States. Patents protect inventions and functional designs. Names, logos, and slogans are protected by trademark law, through the USPTO for national rights or the Florida Department of State for state rights. The search term is common because the word patent gets used loosely. This guide covers how to patent a name in Florida, why the law says no, an

This blog is about How to Trademark an Idea That Is Not in Use Yet You cannot trademark an idea, but you can reserve a name before you launch by filing an intent to use application with the USPTO. Trademark law protects marks that identify the source of goods or services in commerce. It does not protect concepts, plans, or business models. That distinction saves founders a lot of money. This guide covers how to trademark an idea, what an intent to use filing really does, and

This blog was about How to Avoid Trademark Infringement To avoid trademark infringement when naming a new brand, clear the name across the federal register, state registers, and real commercial use before you commit. Next, consider whether buyers could mistake your mark for another one already used with similar products or services. Infringement is not about copying. It is about confusion. Two brands can look quite different and still collide. This guide covers how to avoid t