what's the best way to protect your band name?

To register a trademark, contact either your Secretary of State for a State trademark or the US Patent & Trademark Office for a Federal trademark.

If you are only touring in one state, then a State trademark is most appropriate. If you tour in at least 2 states OR between the US & any other country, you can file for a Federal trademark. This also works if you only tour in 1 state but play at spots that are popular with tourists -- if you play to an audience that has out-of-towners, then it's considered across state lines.

Prior to investing your time, money & effort into a name, it is strongly advised that comprehensive research be conducted to ensure that the name you're interested in is truly available.

This entails searching the pending & registered Federal and State trademark files as well as the US National Common-Law files. Then, if clear, you can decide if you would like to file for a Federal or a State trademark.

Hope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!

Trademarks are federal and are done through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (uspto.gov).

There is a search function at the website for both patents and trademarks.

It's possible to file your own Trademark application (just because you don't see it if you search on the uspto website doesn't mean it's available or that the ones you do see don't conflict).

There are how to guides at your public library.

You can go to your state website and dowload a trademark application form and instructions. Fill out the form and include payment in the designated mannor and send it to the appropriate state and send it where they instruct you.

go to the library and look in the refrence isle or ask a librarian were the books are to tell you how to copyright or trademark your band name and how you wright it.i almost did that for something once but i didn't and now i don't even remember wat it was

well just go ahead and register it, doesnt matter, what matters is how u play , concentrate on that first

copyrighted it .. research for it on the internet how you can copyright your name or anything... its going to cost you but its worth it,..,