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Ask HN: Should I trademark prior to Y Combinator?

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Re: Ask HN: Should I trademark prior to Y Combinator?

#11

Post by shameikachan »

27182818284 wrote: post #3

There may be a strong push to change your name for various reasons. That would seem to make trademarking a waste of time. Paul Graham wrote about it a couple of years ago http://www.paulgraham.com/name.html

good intel. I'll check this out and read up more.

Re: Ask HN: Should I trademark prior to Y Combinator?

#12

Post by adventured »

chaostheory wrote: post #9
auvi wrote: post #5

Could anyone please give a ballpark number for the costs related to trademarking?

I could be wrong, but if you're doing the application yourself, it's under $500 for filing. Chances are you'll need a lawyer, and that's under $1000; separate from filing.

You can easily do a trademark these days using services like LegalZoom for about $500 (includes the Federal fee). No separate lawyer necessary.

https://www.legalzoom.com/business/intellectual-property/tra...

Re: Ask HN: Should I trademark prior to Y Combinator?

#13

Post by shameikachan »

gist wrote: post #8
27182818284 wrote: post #3

There may be a strong push to change your name for various reasons. That would seem to make trademarking a waste of time. Paul Graham wrote about it a couple of years ago http://www.paulgraham.com/name.html

> There may be a strong push to change your name for various reasons. I will let the YC mavens give their opinion on YC, but in other cases in business coming into something with 'here is our name or concept but by all means if you want to change it let me know' is not seen as a good sign of commitment to your own creativy. That doesn't mean you name your company and stay with it 'till the bitter end'. But it also do…

i'm pretty set on the name and see it as a benefit to the company, so i'm willing to make my case should an issue ever arise. this is good intel for me to think on though. I hadn't even thought a potential investor bringing up a name change.

Re: Ask HN: Should I trademark prior to Y Combinator?

#14

Post by shameikachan »

27182818284 wrote: post #3

There may be a strong push to change your name for various reasons. That would seem to make trademarking a waste of time. Paul Graham wrote about it a couple of years ago http://www.paulgraham.com/name.html

This was a good read. Thank you so much for sharing. I own the .com to my name so I was happy to read the importance there.

Re: Ask HN: Should I trademark prior to Y Combinator?

#17

Post by pbreit »

adventured wrote: post #12
chaostheory wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I could be wrong, but if you're doing the application yourself, it's under $500 for filing. Chances are you'll need a lawyer, and that's under $1000; separate from filing.

You can easily do a trademark these days using services like LegalZoom for about $500 (includes the Federal fee). No separate lawyer necessary. https://www.legalzoom.com/business/intellectual-property/tra...

Or just do it yourself: https://www.uspto.gov/trademark

Re: Ask HN: Should I trademark prior to Y Combinator?

#18

Post by mlissner »

The important thing about a trademark is that you start using it. If you run into a problem with somebody else using your name, the most important thing will be who used it first, not who TM'ed it first. In fact, if they TM a name that you had first, you can claw the name and the TM away from them.

Unless you are expecting somebody to steal/abuse your name, there's no rush to TM.

Re: Ask HN: Should I trademark prior to Y Combinator?

#19

Post by chaostheory »

adventured wrote: post #12
chaostheory wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I could be wrong, but if you're doing the application yourself, it's under $500 for filing. Chances are you'll need a lawyer, and that's under $1000; separate from filing.

You can easily do a trademark these days using services like LegalZoom for about $500 (includes the Federal fee). No separate lawyer necessary. https://www.legalzoom.com/business/intellectual-property/tra...

The reason you may need the lawyer is when the USPTO disputes your application... multiple times. This probably depends on who's reviewing your application as well.
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