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Can I copyright the name of my band?

Written by Press Officer on .

No. Copyright law does not apply to names.

However, you have two main options to help protect your band’s name:

Register the name as a business name

  • This can be done with the relevant business registration authority in your country.
  • It helps prevent others from registering the same name for official use.

Register the name as a trade mark or service mark

  • This can be done through your national or regional intellectual property office (e.g., the European Union Intellectual Property Office, the United States Patent and Trademark Office, etc.).
  • A registered trade mark can prevent others from trading under the same or a confusingly similar name in the regions where it is registered.
  • If you want protection worldwide, you’ll need to register in each territory where you intend to operate, or use systems such as the Madrid Protocol for multi-country trade mark protection.

For comprehensive information, including costs and application processes, contact the relevant intellectual property and business registration offices in the countries or regions where you operate.

It is strongly recommended that you seek independent legal advice before proceeding.