Q: I have a specific question about copyright and trademark registration for a game studio.More details below.
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,
i have a specific request and I would like to ask your advice, please.
I am interested in registering a trademark and copyright, specifically about a studio name & devloper name in the games industry, as well as for a website.
Unfortunately, i am not familiar with this whole matter, i am not related to the laws of such entries as in the USA.
Can you tell me please, if there is a corresponding service that does the registration etc. for me so that I don't have to take care of the whole matter myself?
- Unfortunately, i don't know whether such a trademark and copyright can only be registered in the respective country and is valid or whether this is also possible internationally or in the EU area?
- How much does a trademark and copyright registration and renewal cost?
- How long is such a trademark and copyright protected?
It would be very nice if you could give me some information about this, please.
Greetings
A:
If you are outside the US, you must have an attorney who is eligible to practice in the US Patent and Trademark Office represent you in filing a trademark application. Outside the US, you can file a trademark application with the trademark office of each country in which you are seeking protection. You might instead be able to register in one country and extend that protection to others through the Madrid Protocol.
A trademark application should include a detailed search of registration databases. This would look for existing marks that may be confusing and could prevent registration of a new mark. It is always a good idea to have an experienced trademark lawyer advise you on search results. A ballpark estimate would be somewhere between $600 and $900.
Trademark protection can potentially last forever as long as the registered mark is properly maintained by filings showing proof of continued use.
A:
Hello Andreas,
From your description, it sounds as though Trademark Law is more relevant to your objectives. Copyright is concerned with what might be called "content" -- for example, your website or the games the studio might create.
Trademark law is specific to each country. So, registering in the US with the US Patent & Trademark Office confers only US rights. However, there is a European Union Trademark that protects your mark in all member countries of the EU. Although a US trademark is enforceable so long as it's in use, the initial period for an EU trademark ends in 10 years and it may be subsequently renewed.
Costs of Trademark registration vary widely. General Counsel Online provides a fixed price offering at https://generalcounsel.online.
I hope this helps, Andreas.
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