I am currently in the process of my first ever start up and have come across my first problem. I have formed an LLC and have bought a domain name/hosting. I picked a very broad name for the LLC, as I plan on running multiple websites from it, and therefore need to register a DBA for my website. My site is ____-____.com but I have found that there is a registered trademark for that name without the "-" in the middle.
My first question is this, can I register a trade name for something as similar as that product name? I am not selling tangible products as my company provides a listing service. We also are in different states, but both will operate nationwide. Obviously, I am very attached to this name or I wouldn't even be asking the question. In my negligence/ignorance I failed to search nationally and have already began work on the website. I thought that because my state search came up empty I was good to go. . . . I'm sure this will be a learning process.
The next thing I am trying to figure out is how I could protect my DBA nationally if I cannot trademark ___-___ as i assume it is too similar to the previously mentioned trademark. . Is there a way I can register a business name nationally?
Thanks for any help in advance.
My first question is this, can I register a trade name for something as similar as that product name? I am not selling tangible products as my company provides a listing service. We also are in different states, but both will operate nationwide. Obviously, I am very attached to this name or I wouldn't even be asking the question. In my negligence/ignorance I failed to search nationally and have already began work on the website. I thought that because my state search came up empty I was good to go. . . . I'm sure this will be a learning process.
The next thing I am trying to figure out is how I could protect my DBA nationally if I cannot trademark ___-___ as i assume it is too similar to the previously mentioned trademark. . Is there a way I can register a business name nationally?
Thanks for any help in advance.
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