Hi there!

I am soon to go mobile and am getting some leaflets and business cards printed. I have recently thought of a name to call my business and I was just wondering how I would go about getting the name of my business copywrited - any ideas?!

as far as i understand it you cant copyright your business name, only brands
you could complain if another local business used the same name as you but i beleive thats all.
its so hard I called my shop after my kids and had never heard of the name before, but when you put it in the internet its a place in greece and pakistan as well as a large insurers.
You can copyright your logo or brand though
good luck

I don't know if it is the same there as in the US, but here if we want to use a name we go to out city clerks office to get an "assumed name." This is also called a d/b/a -- "doing business as." A copywrite is for written works, designs and things like that. I don't know where you would go there, but I hope I have given you some sort of idea of where to go.

hth....

In the UK you can REGISTER you business name (provided someone else has not registered it first) and then you have some protection against others using it or 'passing themselves off' as somehow being connected to your business.

If you find someone using your name (after you have registered it), it will involve you in legal fees if you go after them. I know, I have done it several times. My salon name Designer Nails was registered in 1986 and I have challenged several salons in my area (and won) over using my name ... but it does incur costs.

How do you find out if a name has already been registered? Is there a website for this?

xx

Here in the states we have to go to our City Hall...don't know if it is called the same there, usually it is done by the city government...again, that's here, but I can't imagine it being to much different there.

Yes, the website is:

www.companieshouse.gov.uk, go to webcheck, and it will tell you if the company name is already used. HTH.

i registered with these guys for about £70. Protects your name and provides legal support should someone use it.

http://www.start.biz/home.htm

Companies house don't register sole traders but you can search their site for names.

HTH

Rachel

I can second this recommendation, it's ideal for self-employed sole traders - they will pay your legal fees if someone in your local area tries to use your registered business name.

Click on the green "Business Names" link from the main page - you can search for names already taken, and register your details online.

Andy