How to Protect a Business Name Online

The influx of new businesses on the Internet over the last decade has led to a parallel flood of intellectual property issues. One of the biggest issues for your online business is to create and protect a business name that is original. There are several steps you can take to protect your online business name that will save you time, money and legal troubles down the road.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Start protecting your business name by applying for a registered trademark. Your business name is technically protected at the starting point of your business, but trademark registration gives you a paper trail that makes legal action more feasible. Determine the authenticity of your business name with the Trademark Electronic Search System provided by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office website (see Resources below).
2. Check Internet search engines regularly to protect your business name. You should enter your name or slogan and read through the most relevant entries to determine possible infringement.
3. Register your business name and website with online directories. There are hundreds of large online directories that allow you to submit a description of your website and a link for use by Internet users. You should also use industry-specific directories as a way of getting your name out in the marketplace to assert the originality of your idea.
4. Consult with an intellectual property attorney as cases of potential infringement arise. You can utilize a local law school or a newer intellectual property firm to keep costs low while getting adequate advice to protect your online business.
5. Mobilize your loyal customers to keep an eye out for any copy cats or companies utilizing your business name. Regular uses of search engines or similar companies may come across names, logos or products that are incredibly similar to yours. Provide discounts or promotional items to motivate customers to help you protect your company's integrity.
6. Approach potential violators before pursuing legal action. With the high volume of new businesses opening on the Internet, it can be difficult to determine the originality of a business idea that is not legally registered. You can request that the owner change his name or purchase another domain name to avoid future confusion.

Tips & Warnings

• Appreciate the relative difficulty of protecting your business name in the online environment. Unlike real world businesses, it can be difficult to assess the origins of a business name or logo without trademark registration. Maintain a complete list of registration documents for your website to help establish the authenticity of your claim to intellectual property.