How do I make sure I can use my farm name?

[Mrs. Cannon]

Hi there! Now I don't want to offend anyone but I'm not going to use my farm name (hopefully) only because I love it and am a little afraid of it being taken. I know silly but it makes me nervous

Alright here's my dilemma,

We have finally chosen a farm name and I would like to make sure I can use it without being sued or something horrible!

. I googled it and looked around and it isn't a website or a name for anything yet, however it was once used to describe something that happened at a winery, such as a gathering of people, it isn't something that happens annually- only once. Is that enough for me to not be able to use it? I am honestly confused about this and would like to make sure we do this right

 

[mulewagon]

http://www.uspto.gov/

Check the Patent and Trademark Office website. It tells you how to register a trademark, and they have a database so you can make sure it's not already registered.

 

[Mrs. Cannon]

Quote:
Thank you for the link

. So if it's not trademarked I can use it or I can "claim" it by using it?

BTW I appreciate this sooooo much!

 

[Rusty Hills Farm]

I "claimed" my farm name by incorporating it in the state of Alabama. In this state no one else can use it as the name of their business.

HTH

Rusty

 

[debilorrah]

Quote:
Ours is an LLC, but same premise. It's OURS!!!

 

[mulewagon]

Right, we can register business names as an LLC in our state - but I don't know what that would mean, legally, if somebody used the same name in another state, or tried to trademark it. It seems worth it to do both, and cover all the bases!

 

[Mrs. Cannon]

Thanks for all the information everyone

. Is it expensive to trademark a name?

 

[they'reHISchickens]

If you are raising some species of animals that have a registry, you can often register a prefix that identifies your breedings. This is done with the governing body that issues the registry certificates. These places maintain a list so that there are no duplicate prefixes.
If you are involved with registered animals, you may want to contact the head registry office first.