Is there any protection for the use of personal names as trademarks?

Yes, there is protection for the use of personal names as trademarks in Washington. According to the Washington State Unfair Competition Law, personal names can be registered as trademarks, as long as they are not the same as an existing registered trademark or deceptive regarding the origin and/or quality of the goods or services they are used to identify. The law also states that once a trademark has been registered, the trademark owner has the exclusive right to use it, even if it is a personal name. This means that other people or businesses may not use the same name in connection with their own goods and services, or they will be liable for trademark infringement. The law also stipulates that the personal name must be distinctive in order to be registered. This means that it has to be a name that sets your goods or services apart from others in the same industry. If a name is not sufficiently distinctive, it may not be allowed to register as a trademark. In summary, personal names can generally be registered as trademarks in Washington. However, they must meet certain criteria in order to be accepted. If a personal name does not meet the criteria, it may not be able to be registered as a trademark and will not be given the protection that other trademarks would receive.

Related FAQs

Are there any defenses to Section 5 of the FTCA?
What are the elements of an unlawful act of unfair competition?
What is a Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) claim?
How does trademark law protect against trademark infringement?
What are the elements of a trademark infringement claim?
Is copyright infringement a form of unfair competition?
Can I sue another company for unfair competition?
What is the concept of "trademark tacking"?
What is the Publicity Rights Act?
What is the Sherman-Kleptomania Doctrine?

Is there any protection for the use of personal names as trademarks?

Related FAQs

Related Blog Posts