You've worked hard to create it. Now copyright it.

A trademark is a word, phrase, symbol, design, or combination that identifies your goods or services. Registering it gives you nationwide notice of your rights and stronger legal tools to stop confusingly similar use by others.

Common law rights can arise when you use a mark in commerce, but they are generally limited to the geographic area where you operate. Federal registration creates a public record of ownership and gives your brand broader, more predictable protection.

Many companies protect both. A name registration can cover the wording customers use to identify the business, while a logo registration can protect the specific visual design. Each application should reflect how the mark is actually used.

A domain name only gives you an internet address; it does not establish broad brand rights. A trademark helps protect the name customers associate with your business across websites, products, advertising, and other channels.

A slogan can function as a trademark when it distinguishes your goods or services rather than merely describing them. If customers recognize the phrase as a source identifier, registering it may be worthwhile.

You will typically need the owner’s legal name and address, a clear representation of the mark, a description of the goods or services, and details about how the mark is being used or when you plan to use it.