Table of Contents
Can two words be copyrighted?
Copyright protects original works of authorship that have been independently created and that are the product of some minimal degree of creativity. Words and short phrases, such as names, titles, and slogans are generally not protected, even if they are original or distinctive.
Do hyphens matter in trademarks?
Section 807.14(c) of The Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure states, “Punctuation, such as quotation marks, hyphens, periods, commas, and exclamation marks, generally does not significantly alter the commercial impression of the mark.” In other words, the addition or subtraction of punctuation does not seriously …
Does copyright apply to words?
Words, Phrases, or Familiar Symbols 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.
Is having similar name copyright infringement?
If the mark is used with the authorisation of the holder of the registered trademark, it does not constitute infringement. Identical or deceptively similar: The trademark used by the unauthorised person needs to either be identical to that of the registered trademark or deceptively similar to it.
Can a single word be trademarked?
This involves registering a single word as a trademark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). A trademark is a word, phrase, sign, symbol, or logo used to identify a product’s owner. Trademarks give exclusive rights to a person or company to use a specific mark within an industry.
What is considered a copyright infringement?
As a general matter, copyright infringement occurs when a copyrighted work is reproduced, distributed, performed, publicly displayed, or made into a derivative work without the permission of the copyright owner.
Can you use a hyphen in a business name?
Avoid using hyphens and other special characters. Since certain algorithms and directory listings work alphabetically, pick a name closer to A than Z. These days, it even helps if the name can easily be turned into a verb, like Google me.
Can you trademark a word with an apostrophe?
It is generally improper to make changes to a trademark or logo in use. Grafting together two trademarks, adding words or letters to a trademark, and making a trademark plural or possessive with an apostrophe “s” should be avoided.
Which words are not protected by copyright?
Titles, names, short phrases, slogans Titles, names, short phrases, and slogans are not protected by copyright law.
Do not use hyphens in Your Domain Name?
Do not use hyphens in your domain name because as an SEO point of view you can not use any number, hyphens, or any other symbol. The domain name should be easy to type or remember, do not use unmemorable words.
Why are there two hyphens in a 3 word word?
It’s because hyphens cause two problems. Each hyphen adds another word to your domain. A three-word domain with two hyphens is actually five words because you have to say “dash” twice. That means it takes longer to say.
Are domain names protected by copyright law?
Even though copyright doesn’t protect domain names, that doesn’t mean domain names are entirely unprotected. Trademark law protects web addresses. And for a variety of reasons, companies are often more apt to go after individual instances of trademark infringement than individual copyright infringers.
Is a web address subject to copyright law?
Is a web address (a domain name) subject to copyright law? No, for a variety of reasons web addresses (also known as a domain names or URLs) aren’t protected by copyright. Even though copyright doesn’t protect domain names, that doesn’t mean domain names are entirely unprotected. Trademark law protects web addresses.