Helpful Information / Articles: Trademarks - Trade Name
US Patents - International Patents - Software Patents - Trademarks - Copyrights - Trade Secrets - Licensing

A trade name or commercial name is any name used to identify and distinguish a business or vocation, just as a trademark is used to identify and distinguish goods and services. There is no provision for the registration of trade names which are used solely as a trade names under federal trademark law. Nontheless, wording which constitutes a trade name may be used in such a way that it functions as a trademark or service mark, and therefore may be registered as such. It may be possible to register a trade name that is used solely as a trade name under state law. Trade names may also be protected by state common law and the Federal Lanham Act §43(a), and may be of infinite duration.

< Trademarks - Trade Dress