can anyone tell me where i can go to get rights for a name? and about how much it costs?
Thanks alot!
Shaun:D

http://www.loc.gov/copyright/

You should find out everything you need to know here.

Find the website for your county...

its the County Clerk. Phone them or e-mail them and they'll tell you where to go and where to get an application. The cost isn't too steep at all... for me it was 30 dollars plus 7 dollars for every extra name (I had 3 extra names).

Thank you,

Arvand Sabetian

How do you mean the rights for a name?

Any original work you create yourself has automatic copyright under the berne convention... however you can register copyright too (although this is not necessary in all countries, the UK for example).

I doubt that you can copyright a domain name (you can trademark it... although maybe they changed that rule).

i want to copyright the name, with out the www.com i already own the site.

Originally posted by Rich2k
How do you mean the rights for a name?

Any original work you create yourself has automatic copyright under the berne convention... however you can register copyright too (although this is not necessary in all countries, the UK for example).

I doubt that you can copyright a domain name (you can trademark it... although maybe they changed that rule).

Originally posted by Rich2k
I doubt that you can copyright a domain name (you can trademark it... although maybe they changed that rule). Actually, technically you can't trademark a domain name. You can trademark a name that you use in your business, which may be the same as your domain name.

That is, if you run Willie's Widget World and you have a site with that name plastered all over it at the domain bestwidgets.com, you normally can not get trademark protection for the name bestwidgets.com. But, if you operate the business under that name, label the site clearly that way, put that as the business name on your business cards, etc., you may be able to -- taking into consideration the regular restrictions on trademark that would apply to any name or phrase.

And, you're absolutely right that you can't copyright a name, domain name or otherwise.

Blue27 provided a link for copyright information; trademark info (http://www.uspto.gov/main/trademarks.htm) is available from the US Patent and Trademark Office.

Obviously you already own the domain name why would you need to copyright it. I don't think there is anything you cna get that entitles you to the domain even if you don't pay for it.

However, as I mentioned your only choice is registering it with the county. That doesn't mean others cant use the name but it does mean that the name is yours in YOUR county. I am pretty sure there are options for state wide and country wide registrations also but that depends on how much budget you have and how important your name is to you.

Thank you,

Arvand Sabetian

You want to trademark your name. http://www.uspto.gov You could copyright all the text on your website and maybe even obtain an additional trademark on your company slogan.

You can use your full name as a company and your domain as a fictious name I believe as well right?

Your full name as company is fine and the domain is yours as long as you do the main trading (accepting checks and so on) through your company name (your name) you don't need to register anything. However, its always a good idea to register your domain as a fictious name anyways...

Originally posted by CaliBoy
i want to copyright the name, with out the www.com i already own the site.

Right you can't copyright the name, you can trademark it. A trademark (registered) prevent people from using that name. However be aware trademarks exist across a number of classes. You need to register it though each class you want to protect it in (it can get quite expensive).

Exactly. There's a big confusion between a copyright and a trademark. A copyright is on a creative work such as a logo design or your website's content/design. The trademark which is a PAIN to get and is far, far more expensive (a few thousand bucks in end here in the US), is what you would need to protect your business name.

Thanks for letting everyone here know that cause I was not sure about that Myself

:)

Thought I would share this as well. It's the fees regarding a Trademark from the USPTO
http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/qs/ope/fee20030101.htm

And also what is a registered trademark in the US could actually be a registered trademark to a DIFFERENT company in the UK!

THe databases are independent to each other.

In the UK a trademark registration costs an initial £200 (which includes one class) and then £50 for each additional class.

I worked out once for web hosting and/or design you need a minimum of three classes.