How to Check If Business Name Has a Copyright
Copyright infringement is a serious crime, investigated by the FBI. Those who disregard copyright and patent laws could face civil or criminal lawsuits and steep fines. After securing financing to be able to start a business, no new owner wants to find out that his business name is already the property of someone else. Fortunately, there are simple ways to ensure that a business name is original.
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Instructions
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Navigate to the United States Copyright Office search engine (see Resources).
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In the search box, type the entire title. Articles such as "a," "an," and "the" should be omitted.
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Ensure that "Search by Title" is highlighted in blue and then click "Begin Search."
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If results appear, read them over to determine what type of copyright is being described. If no results are found, the title has passed the Copyright Search and should now be checked for trademarks.
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Navigate to the United States Patent and Trademark Office's Trademark Electronic Search System (see Resources). Click on the word "Search" that is located on the right-hand side under trademarks.
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On the next page, click "New User Form Search (basic)."
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In the search term box, type the proposed business name. Leave the "Plural and Singular" and the "Live and Dead" radial buttons selected. Do not alter the selections in the drop-down menu.
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Click on "Submit Query" and if no results are found, the business name has passed the trademark search. If results are found, review them for terms and conditions.
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Tips & Warnings
If unsure about a search result, contact either the U.S. Copyright Office or the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for assistance.
