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Protecting yourself
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| Johnny Eckhardt |
I read in one of the other posts where DJ DAWN was having a problem because someone said that name already had a copyright and couldn't be used. (DJ Dawn, if you're reading this, check my reply to that post).This made me realize that the same thing could happen to any one of you. So,I thought maybe this post might help someone here.
First of all....if you are using a name like DJ or any other unique name that you want to be known by, you might consider having that name trademarked. You can not copyright a name....only things like music, books, pictures..etc. You can, however, trademark a name (if someone hasn't already done so). By trademarking your name, you would have exclusive rights to that name (I don't mean trademarking a name like Bob Smith or anything ..but something like DJ* or Swamper or such)
To find out if a name has already been trademarked, go to
WWW.NAMEPROTECT.COM There, you can do a search to see if it has already been trademarked and if it hasn't you can apply for the trademark there. I think it cost about $65
(US Dollars) to do. I know it will search for trademarks in USA, Canada & Europe ....I'm not sure where else, though.
It's something to think about if your serious about keeping your "DJ name" for a long time. |
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| Johnny Eckhardt |
| I forgot to mention....the search is free. It only cost money when you apply for a trademark. |
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| Peter Campbell |
thanks Johnny
for the link and looking out of every one . looks like you will fit in here well keep up the good work . |
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| Johnny Eckhardt |
Anytime, man.
I guess I should have mentioned that everyone should check out DJ DAWN's thread "I have bad luck" in the Chill Out Room
to see what could happen any one of us. |
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| Peter Campbell |
| Yea I had a look before . woudn`t that be a real if your name was taking . I am alright I`am not a DJ , DJ Pete is just a name for here , I am at the moment producing my own trance but I will just use my own name Peter Campbell , look out for me next year . |
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| Peter Campbell |
| While were are talking about Protecting yourself , people that Produce there own Trance should copyright there work to . The easy way to do this is when you are finished burn it to a CD , than post in the mail one back to your self and one to some one that you can trust and you never open them , leave them sealed and dated . Doing this has won in court before . |
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| Johnny Eckhardt |
| Yeah, Pete's got a real good point there. You can't be too careful when it comes to protecting your material. There are people out there that will snatch up uncopyrighted material in a hot minute. Especially if it's quality work. |
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| Peter Campbell |
| quote: | Originally posted by Johnny Eckhardt
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looks like no one is wored about this Johnny no one els is on this thread !!!!!!! o well I hope we helped some one . |
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| djdawn |
Johny, I read your responses in the "bad luck" thread and got your PM, as well. Unfortunately I haven't been able to clear things up. I know that the guy who has djdawn.com is not the person who sent me the e-mail.
But there is another problem. Nameprotect does a free search for europe, but that's not very accurate. I have been looking for some kind of search-enginge or a site with all registered names in Germany, but it doesn't exist or isn't accessible for free. There are many lawyers that will do the search for you, but that starts at something like 200 $. Now I could just go to the german patent office, which is also responsible for names, but they wouldn't check if DJ Dawn already exists, either. This is my responsibility alone.
If I just get it protected and it already is protected by someone else, he can sue my a**. And that is expensive.
I was so stupid when I deleted that e-mail, I would just call the guy and ask for some proof, but it all came totally unexpected and he was already talking about some lawyer in that e-mail (like: "if you won't take down that website until next friday...")
I don't want to change my name if he was fake, but I can't afford to get sued... :(
btw there is another "dawn" on this board, that's not me.. |
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| Johnny Eckhardt |
| Well, I guess you could always just keep doin' what you're doin' and wait to hear from him again...then ask for proof. He won't be able to sue you right off the bat (or wouldn't because it cost money, etc. and he would most likely contact you again.) Now, when I said that he won't be able to sue you right off the bat, I forgot that you are in Germany. I don't know how things like this are handled there. You'll probably be able to find out exactly what your options are, though, by doing some searching on the good ol internet. Best of luck to you...I hope it all works out ok for you. |
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| patticus |
these "comprehensive searches"
can cost hundreds of dollars though! on nameprotect.com
i want to trademark dj splice
but nothing pops up in the free search as trademarked
or even for dj dawn or pete or whatever.
the free search is pretty crappy |
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