Protecting a name for a product?

[reb1977]

I have a car part made for me by a manufacturer which I market with a certain name which relates to its type of fitment. This name now seems to be the common word to descibe this type of part and now a couple of other companies are making a similar product and using the same name to market it with. What can I do to protect this name? Copyright, trademark etc?

[justinp1]

You *can* trademark the name. This process is reasonably simple if the product is new, however this situation is much more complex.

If you are serious about stoppping others using the name, you would have to weigh up the potential costs involved of protecting and enforcing it which would probably run into thousands if the registration was contested.

This would definately be one to talk to a legal specialist about. There are a few on the web who specilise in this kind of thing. The 'basic package' starts at around £600, but as this situation is more difficult in defining the product and the name and protecting the use you may find the total legal costing is much more.

[tinman0]

reb1977 said:

This name now seems to be the common word to descibe this type of part and now a couple of other companies are making a similar product and using the same name to market it with. What can I do to protect this name? Copyright, trademark etc?

If the name is already in use, i would say you are too late.

Speak to Eugene at Revomark (google it), and he should be able to advise you.