The short answer to the question of whether you can trademark dictionary words—words that you can find in any dictionary, words that are common to the language is…
ABSOLUTELY YES
. You can and really, the best example of that is Apple. … Yet Apple, of course, is a very valuable trademark.
What words can you not copyright?
In general, copyright does not protect individual words,
short phrases
, and slogans; familiar symbols or designs; or mere variations of typographic ornamentation, lettering, or coloring; mere listings of ingredients or contents.
Can you copyright a word?
You cannot obtain a copyright registration for one word
. Copyright does not protect names, titles, slogans, or short phrases. A copyright only exists for original works of authorship fixed in a tangible medium of expression. … So if you have invented a word, you cannot claim it as your own word that no one else can use.
Can you patent a word or phrase?
While you can learn how to patent an idea here, unfortunately,
it is not possible to patent a phrase
. Instead, you can trademark a phrase by registering it with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
What names Cannot be trademarked?
- Proper names or likenesses without consent from the person.
- Generic terms, phrases, or the like.
- Government symbols or insignia.
- Vulgar or disparaging words or phrases.
- The likeness of a U.S. President, former or current.
- Immoral, deceptive, or scandalous words or symbols.
- Sounds or short motifs.
Can you copyright a recipe?
A mere listing of ingredients is not protected under copyright law
. However, where a recipe or formula is accompanied by substantial literary expression in the form of an explanation or directions, or when there is a collection of recipes as in a cookbook, there may be a basis for copyright protection.
How do I get a phrase patented?
You can trademark a phrase at the
local level by applying at your state trademark office
. To trademark a phrase locally, you must already be using the phrase publicly. You can apply for a nationwide trademark with the USPTO. With the USPTO you can apply with the “intent to use.”
Can you patent a phrase on a T shirt?
If your T-shirt design has symbols, words, or other marks that uniquely distinguish it from other T-shirts on the market you can
obtain a trademark
to protect your design from others who might wish to capitalize on your intellectual property.
How do I know if a phrase is trademarked?
You can search all applied-for and registered trademarks free of charge by using the
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
‘s Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS). If your mark includes a design element, you will have to search it by using a design code.
Is Nike Just Do It trademarked?
Just Do It or JDI for short (stylized as JUST DO IT. and set in Futura Bold Condensed) is
a trademark of shoe company Nike
, and it is one of the core components of Nike’s brand. The slogan was coined in 1988 at an advertising agency meeting.
Is it better to trademark or copyright a name?
Trademarks offer far more protection than copyrights
, but copyrights are extremely important for the protection of logos. Read on to explore in detail the difference between the two, so that you can better understand their importance and the impact they can have on your company.
What Cannot be trademarked UK?
Your trade mark cannot:
be offensive
, for example contain swear words or pornographic images. describe the goods or services it will relate to, for example the word ‘cotton’ cannot be a trade mark for a cotton textile company. be misleading, for example use the word ‘organic’ for goods that are not organic.
Can you plagiarize a recipe?
The food community can address recipe plagiarism
, but there isn’t any way of Copyrighting recipes. For recipes, the chefs can show proof of copied recipes, words, or images. For cookbook writers and food bloggers, it is easier to have protection against their content getting copied.
Is it illegal to use someone else’s recipe?
The short answer is
“probably not
.” If the recipes are published, there is no trade secret protection. If you don’t use any names associated with the recipe, there wan’t be a trademark problem (in contrast to calling something “The Whopper” or “Big Mac”).
Does a chef own his recipes?
Under this document,
all recipes created by the chef belong to the restaurant
, even if they were created on the chef’s own time and using ingredients and equipment purchased and owned by the chef. …
How much does it cost to patent a word?
If you have ever asked yourself how much does it cost to trademark a phrase, according to the current fee schedule on the USPTO, trademark registration fees cost
$275 per mark per class
. If you need an attorney’s assistance, the cost averages around $1,000 to $2,000.
