Anyone know of a website where I can search the US gov for names already registered so I dont choose a name for my company that is already taken??

Would be much help!

Thanks!

You mean this:

http://www.uspto.gov/

:confused:

basically i dont want to take a company name that is already taken, and then have to change later, ya know?

Will this be an offline or online business?

If it's an online business, go for a domain name WHOIS search.

http://www.internic.net

yes online, but say i call myself whatever, and they dont have a website but there is a company with that name, i am thinking that would pose a problem

hmmm http://www.publicrecordfinder.com/

progex listed the correct site to start with.



you should also register your name, and in the process they should offer a search for you at a reasonable (but probably not free) cost.

Originally posted by rjarow
Anyone know of a website where I can search the US gov for names already registered so I dont choose a name for my company that is already taken??The problem with that idea is that companies don't have to register their names with the federal government, so there is no such comprehensive list.

The USPTO, as mentioned, will be able to tell you if a name has been registered as a trademark, but not finding it there doesn't mean you are necessarily free to use it. Many names aren't registered even though their use is firmly established.

Corporations will be registered with state governments, so you should check with your state's secretary of state... most of them now have searchable databases online.

Fictitious names or "dba's" will be registered by the county... so again you can check to see if a name is registered locally through your county clerk.

Probably the best bet is to search in Google, then if you don't find anything try the USPTO and then your state. If you don't find anything, you're probably -- or possibly anyway -- in the clear. But that's the kind of thing, if you do try to trademark a name, that you pay your patent attorney for: research into any possible conflicts.

Originally posted by rjarow
Anyone know of a website where I can search the US gov for names already registered so I dont choose a name for my company that is already taken??

Would be much help!

Thanks!


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