Editor's Note

So what is a Trademark? According to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), a TRADEMARK is either a word, phrase, symbol or design, or combination of words, phrases, symbols or designs, which identifies and distinguishes the source of the goods or services of one party from those of others.

Remember, just registering a Domain is not the same as Trademarking one. Just because you have a great name doesn't mean it cannot be taken away from you by someone that already has that name trademarked.

When you are ready to trademark your name it is recommended that you hire a patent attorney, because the trademark process can be tricky. One of the most important processes in applying for a trademark is searching for potential trademark conflicts. In today's NetDummy, I put together a list of resources you can use to search for trademark conflicts.

If you would like to read more information on Trademarking your Domain Name, read this online tutorial provided by eStartupHelp.com: http://www.estartuphelp.com/trademark1.html

Patrick Stoddard, Editor

United States Patent and Trademark Office.

http://www.uspto.gov/

The USPTO is the government agency responsible for registering trademarks and other intellectual properties. This is the first site to go to if you are interested in trademarking your business name. You can conduct a free, basic trademark search. You can also learn very important information about trademarks.

USPTO's Trademark Resource Pamphlet.

http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/tac/doc/basic/

This is a pamphlet that is customarily furnished in response to general information requests about trademarks received at the Patent and Trademark Office. A printed copy of this publication is provided by the USPTO at no charge. It can also be downloaded from this page.

USPTO Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS).

http://www.uspto.gov/teas/index.html

This is supposed to make applying quicker and easier. You can also print the TEAS application form and mail it to the USPTO.

IBM's Trademark and Patent Website.

http://www.patents.ibm.com/

This is a trademark and patent search website managed by IBM. It has several features that make your search easier and quicker. You can narrow the search by patent number, title, or abstract, or by all claims, assignee, inventors, and attorney/agent.

Entrepreneur Magazine's Legal Filings

http://www.entrepreneurmag.com/bizfilings/

Here, you'll find answers to common questions about the pros and cons of trademarks, limited liability companies, sole proprietorships, S corporations and more. Its articles are aimed at the layman and they are very easy to understand.

Marks Online

http://www.marksonline.com/

The Intellectual Property portal. This portal has an amazing collection of resources on Trademarks, Patents, copyrights, and general Intellectual Property issues.

Intellectual Property Menu

http://www.ipmenu.com/

That is a guide to intellectual property resources. They have a huge selection of intellectual property resources online.

Attorney Find

http://www.attorneyfind.com/

This is an extensive database of attorneys, categorized by geography and area of specialization. You can select the type of service you need and a selection of attorneys will be listed for you.

Find Law

http://www.findlaw.com/business.html