anyone know where a fella can go to protect themselves?  google search popped up alot of places :

or should I say the right one to go to?

just me and a good friend looken into it, we'd like to see how much and what is offered for logos & names?(well mainly names for now)

Is it worth tryen to protect a buisness name??

Only if it's a name like SMUCKERS!

LBH owns a few copyrights. Check with him.

If you are looking to start a business, and want to protect the name, you can do it through the state for about 15 bucks.  At least that is the case in TX.  

I went down to the County Clerk's office, performed a public records search to make sure that my name idea wasn't already in use, then paid 15 bucks and registered it.  Now that is only to protect the business name in Texas, not any other state.  You may do something through the Sec. of State's office for a national registry.

If you are looking to start a business, and want to protect the name, you can do it through the state for about 15 bucks. At least that is the case in TX.

I went down to the County Clerk's office, performed a public records search to make sure that my name idea wasn't already in use, then paid 15 bucks and registered it. Now that is only to protect the business name in Texas, not any other state. You may do something through the Sec. of State's office for a national registry.

This only registers the business, does nothing to protect the name other than time stamp when you came up with it.  It is "taken" in Tx, meaning no one can sign up using it because someone already did, but that really doesn't mean it's "protected".  It is not protected till the copy right is submitted.  It is protected from the submission date on, provided it eventually gets approved.  

As an example.  Your biz name is "shakey heads"  you sell Vibration equipment for construction, tamperers etc. (in Tx)

I own a tackle shop called Bills tackle and I make my own jigs that I call shakeyheads.  You have no say in that unless the term "shakeyhead" has a copy right.  You have merely registered your business with the name but it is not protected.  The only way it is protected is that no one else in Tx can name their BUSINESS "shakeyheads"  (but they CAN name their products as such)

It's not cheap.  To properly copyright a name only, no logo, is appx $3k when all said and done.

If you are looking to start a business, and want to protect the name, you can do it through the state for about 15 bucks. At least that is the case in TX.

I went down to the County Clerk's office, performed a public records search to make sure that my name idea wasn't already in use, then paid 15 bucks and registered it. Now that is only to protect the business name in Texas, not any other state. You may do something through the Sec. of State's office for a national registry.

This only registers the business, does nothing to protect the name other than time stamp when you came up with it. It is "taken" in Tx, meaning no one can sign up using it because someone already did, but that really doesn't mean it's "protected". It is not protected till the copy right is submitted. It is protected from the submission date on, provided it eventually gets approved.

As an example. Your biz name is "shakey heads" you sell Vibration equipment for construction, tamperers etc. (in Tx)

I own a tackle shop called Bills tackle and I make my own jigs that I call shakeyheads. You have no say in that unless the term "shakeyhead" has a copy right. You have merely registered your business with the name but it is not protected. The only way it is protected is that no one else in Tx can name their BUSINESS "shakeyheads" (but they CAN name their products as such)

It's not cheap.  To properly copyright a name only, no logo, is appx $3k when all said and done.

Wow  

Gives us an Idea, thanks