Service Mark

[Shelley966]

What is the name of your state? Indiana.
I have an idea for a new type of business and I am wondering if I need to register it before I tell anyone?

 

[HomeGuru]

What is the name of your state? Indiana.
I have an idea for a new type of business and I am wondering if I need to register it before I tell anyone?

**A: and how would you register an idea?

 

[Shelley966]

That is my question. Should I file for an Intent to Use service mark? Or should I just register the name of the business? My worry is that the concept will be taken before I can get it going so I would like to protect that.

 

[HomeGuru]

That is my question. Should I file for an Intent to Use service mark? Or should I just register the name of the business? My worry is that the concept will be taken before I can get it going so I would like to protect that.

**A: you can't protect a concept. Read www.uspto.gov

 

[divgradcurl]

Agreed, in general. It depends on what your idea or concept is. If it's patentable, you can seek a patent to protect it. Otherwise, it may be more difficult or even impossible to protect. You best bet is to sit down with a local attorney who has experience in intellectual property law and can review all of the actual details of your particular situation and advise you accordingly.