How do I protect my band’s name?
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Mary Martin
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Mary Martin has been a legal writer and editor for over 20 years, responsible for ensuring that content is straightforward, correct, and helpful for the consumer. In addition, she worked on writing monthly newsletter columns for media, lawyers, and consumers. Ms. Martin also has experience with internal staff and HR operations. Mary was employed for almost 30 years by the nationwide legal publi...
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UPDATED: Jul 14, 2023
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UPDATED: Jul 14, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right legal decisions.
We strive to help you make confident insurance and legal decisions. Finding trusted and reliable insurance quotes and legal advice should be easy. This doesn’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own.
A trademark helps protect a band’s name and merchandising. A trademark is any word, phrase, design, symbol, or other similar marketing devices used by manufactures and merchants to identity and distinguish them from products and services sold by others. (See our section on Trademark for more information.)
Musical acts generally provide services, not products. Since a band initially provides a “service” and not a product per se, a servicemark is the proper method to protect the name of a band. Once you start selling product commercially on a national scale, you may then want to also register a trademark for your products and merchandise (e.g. CD’s, tapes, T-shirts, stickers, caps, etc.).
(Reprinted with permission of Ruben Salazar, Esq.)
Case Studies: Protecting Band Names and Trademarks
Case Study 1: The Rockin’ Rebels
John, Sarah, and Mark came together to form a band called The Rockin’ Rebels. While they gained popularity in their local area, they failed to secure trademark protection for their name. Unfortunately, another band with the same name from a neighboring state achieved nationwide fame. Due to the absence and merchandising opportunities.
Case Study 2: The Melodic Mavens
John, Sarah, and Mark, known as the Melodic Mavens, took proactive steps to safeguard their band name by registering it as a servicemark. Their distinctive musical style allowed them to successfully defend their trademark rights when another band attempted to use a similar name. With exclusive branding and a strong presence in the market, they were able to establish a dedicated fan base.
Case Study 3: The Harmonious Harmony
John, Sarah, and Mark, performing as The Harmonious Harmony, recognized the importance of protecting their band name through trademark registration. With their legally safeguarded name and merchandise, they capitalized on licensing deals and partnerships. This strategic move paved the way for national tours and an ever-growing fan base, ultimately boosting their overall success.
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Mary Martin
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Mary Martin has been a legal writer and editor for over 20 years, responsible for ensuring that content is straightforward, correct, and helpful for the consumer. In addition, she worked on writing monthly newsletter columns for media, lawyers, and consumers. Ms. Martin also has experience with internal staff and HR operations. Mary was employed for almost 30 years by the nationwide legal publi...
Published Legal Expert
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about legal topics and insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything legal and insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by experts.