Confused about trademarks and registered company names?

QUESTIONS ABOUT TRADEMARKS

Are Novanym names trademarked?

No. It's not possible for us to 'pre-register' the names or logos on our website as trademarks. This is because trademarks can only be registered by the owners of existing businesses, in specific countries or territories, and in relation to specific goods or services.

Therefore you will only be able to apply for trademark registration once you have purchased the domain name from us, and registered your company.

What if a name I have chosen is already registered as a trademark?

A trademark only offers protection in specific countries or territories, and in relation to specific goods or services. So it might not be relevant if your chosen name (or something similar to it) is already registered as a trademark.

For example, your chosen name could be registered by another company as a trademark in the UK, for the provision of Computer Services, but your business is in the United States and related to Carpet Making, so the registration is not relevant.

If in doubt, you should consult with a Trademark Attorney.

Can I trademark a name after I have bought it from Novanym?

Yes. Novanym business names are invented names, created by branding professionals - so, although they can't be registered as trademarks in advance (before they are purchased), they are more likely to be accepted for trademark registration than generic, descriptive business names.

What's the difference between a registered trademark and a registered company name?

Registering your name as a trademark gives you exclusive rights to the use of your name, and can prevent anyone else from using it. These rights are legally protected.

The registration of your company or business name, however, is simply a legal obligation and allows you to trade legally, issue invoices ...and pay taxes. 

Although it can provide valuable protection, registering a trademark can be a time-consuming and costly exercise, and many businesses will not need this level of protection.

Trademark, copyright, registered name and brand - what's the difference? Read more >

Questions about registered company names

Are Novanym names registered company names?

No. Novanym sells trading names and domain names – not registered company names.

You will have to register the business name with your regional/local authorities with your own personal and business details - it's not something we can do for you. 

What is a registered company or business name?

A registered name is the full, formal name of a legal entity, and is very different from a trading name or brand name. For example, in the UK, there are over 250 limited companies registered with variants of the name 'Amazon', which doesn't seem to bother the online retail giant! Incidentally, Amazon itself is registered as 'Amazon.com U.K. Limited', not 'Amazon Limited'.

I've found a name like - what do I do next?

Once you've found a business name you like, you can check the availability of the full company name that you want to register on your country's corporate registry website. (In the UK this is Companies House, and in the US every state has its own corporate registry.) 

Registering the formal business name is usually straightforward.

What if a business has already registered the name I have chosen?

Even if a company is already registered with your new brand name - or a name similar to it - it's easy and common to make your formal, registered name unique by adding a 'qualifier' word to your full legal name that's specific to your business - like 'Food Service' or 'Pharmaceuticals' or more general ones, like 'Management', 'Marketing' or 'International'.

The authorities will have to approve your full, formal name to ensure that it is clearly distinct from any other, similar name in your sector. So check with them if you are in any doubt.

Your brand name, or trading name, is still the single word name, 'Example'. (And, of course, your domain is 'Example.com'). In the UK, McDonalds Restaurants Limited is the full registered name for McDonalds; but McDonalds is their brand name, and McDonalds.com is their domain name.

Any questions?

If you have any questions about buying a domain from Novanym, feel free to get in touch:

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