Registering A Name

So I am looking to register a name that I have used for a while with my videography and now with photography. I dont want an actual business just register the name so it cant be used by others or so no one else can register and then I have legal problems. I know a lot of people use their own name but I have been using my Kracked Kayak Productions for quite a while with my documentary shorts and want to make it legal. Has anyone done this or know hot to do it? Would it be as simple as registering it as a trademark?

Google is your friend
http://www.bos.virgini​a.gov/starting.shtml

But I dont want to start an actual business. I just want the name. That does state to register the name and the trademark with the office but Im wondering if its the same with just a name. I dont want to do it then get reamed with a bunch of tax stuff because I technically and legally started a buisness. I dont do my work for profit, just personal but I dont want someone down the road registering it as a business then coming after me . Or am I just missing something on the site right in front of me

You need to register the name as a Trademark http://www.uspto.gov/t​rademarks/

Dan Marchant wrote in post #17324206
You need to register the name as a Trademark http://www.uspto.gov/t​rademarks/

yup.

keep in mind you will register it as a specific business type and the trademark will likely only be protected for the industry in which you operate.

ok so i just register it as a trademark. thats what i was trying to figure out. And its fine just registering it for a pecific type of industry. Ill just have to figure out how to cover both my photograhy and videography

Maybe you want a DBA? (Doing Business As)

It is a business entity without being a legally formed corporation.

Could you just register the dot com? I would imagine someone would try and think up a new name for their business if the dot com was already taken. I could be wrong though.

I appreciate having the dot com doesn't give you any legal rights

You may not want to start a business but you likrly need to register that name with the state, hence the link. You may not hsve the option to reserve a nsme snd not use it.

I'll have to look into the dba. As far as all registering w/o being a business maybe I'll have to contact then

I own a corporation (ACME Widgets Inc) and DBA (World's Greatest Landscape Photographer). This allows me to use 2 different names to accept payments into my corporate account. Bank saw DBA is legal entity and connected it to my existing account. You do not need to have a corporation to form a DBA. You could be proctologist Dr. Brown but get a DBA as "ASSMAN", or get license plates with the same

gmm213 wrote in post #17324358
ok so i just register it as a trademark. thats what i was trying to figure out. And its fine just registering it for a pecific type of industry. Ill just have to figure out how to cover both my photograhy and videography

Video and photography are close enough to be covered by one trademark. Just make sure you are clear about the business' intentions.

dkizzle wrote in post #17324924
Maybe you want a DBA? (Doing Business As)

It is a business entity without being a legally formed corporation.

DBA is not a legal or business entity it is simply a way a bank/city/state associates another name with an individual/SSN/Federal Tax ID #. It's jnot much more than a way to deposit a check.

gonzogolf wrote in post #17325096
You may not want to start a business but you likrly need to register that name with the state, hence the link. You may not hsve the option to reserve a nsme snd not use it.

I'm 99 percent sure an individual can own a trademark.

dkizzle wrote in post #17325320
I own a corporation (ACME Widgets Inc) and DBA (World's Greatest Landscape Photographer). This allows me to use 2 different names to accept payments into my corporate account. Bank saw DBA is legal entity and connected it to my existing account. You do not need to have a corporation to form a DBA. You could be proctologist Dr. Brown but get a DBA as "ASSMAN", or get license plates with the same

Dr. Brown? Did you have to go there? LOL

Some

dkizzle wrote in post #17325320
I own a corporation (ACME Widgets Inc) and DBA (World's Greatest Landscape Photographer). This allows me to use 2 different names to accept payments into my corporate account. Bank saw DBA is legal entity and connected it to my existing account. You do not need to have a corporation to form a DBA. You could be proctologist Dr. Brown but get a DBA as "ASSMAN", or get license plates with the same

Somebody has been watching reruns of Sienfield . . .

So from what Im gathering, for my purposes a trademark would be the way to go? A name that I have the legal right to use that I can associate my works with, correct?

Yes.

As mentioned above you may also need to register a "doing business as" (which is not a company) depending on your local tax/business laws. However that is totally separate from the Trademark.