Hello,
I have created a non-profit, health care based, business. To explain the
business, the project has to do with free hand-outs to patients. I am the
sole person involved in the making and handing out of these. I work in
healthcare, so I have no idea about the other aspects of this project, except
the final part. Do I need to trade mark the name, do I need to file this with
the state, who do I need to do? I just want to do this and not get in trouble
or have my idea stolen. (this has been okay'ed by the health care building
that I am at.)
I want to protect my idea, in hopes that this will catch on and spread to
other healthcare places.
I have designed a logo and created a name, which both are free of trade mark
or trade name.
I don't want to start doing this until I can put the name on the forms and
make a web site.
thank you for any help
blake
BizResearcher | Window Shopper |
2/12/2013 - 11:26 am
Have you actually obtained non-profit status from the IRS? If not, you need
to do so to be a legal non-profit. It sounds as if you are more of an
information provider rather than a non-profit health care business, so be
certain you register appropriately. If you have not registered your business
name and entity type with your state or county agency that handles such
matters, that is your first step. You can trademark your name and logo with
your state and/or with the U.S. Patents and Trademarks Office (USPTO).
Any original materials that you write are automatically copyrighted. You will
want to state at the bottom of the newsletter or informational piece that it
is copyrighted by adding something like "copyright 2013 XYZ business; all
rights reserved." You may want to visit the U.S. Library of Congress
Copyright division and do some reading about how to protect your original
material and what protections automatically exist.
JGabriel | Community Moderator |
2/7/2013 - 10:53 am
Hi Blake, if you’ve got a great idea, logo, business name, or even an invention, you need to protect it. This page can help shed some insight on intellectual property law. For additional information on patents, trademarks & copyright, check out this page.
BizResearcher | Window Shopper | 2/12/2013 - 11:26 am
to do so to be a legal non-profit. It sounds as if you are more of an
information provider rather than a non-profit health care business, so be
certain you register appropriately. If you have not registered your business
name and entity type with your state or county agency that handles such
matters, that is your first step. You can trademark your name and logo with
your state and/or with the U.S. Patents and Trademarks Office (USPTO).
Any original materials that you write are automatically copyrighted. You will
want to state at the bottom of the newsletter or informational piece that it
is copyrighted by adding something like "copyright 2013 XYZ business; all
rights reserved." You may want to visit the U.S. Library of Congress
Copyright division and do some reading about how to protect your original
material and what protections automatically exist.
JGabriel | Community Moderator | 2/7/2013 - 10:53 am
Join The Discussion
You must be logged in to join the discussion. If you already have an SBA Community account, Log In to join the discussion.
New users, Register for a new account and join the conversation today!