Should You Trademark Your Name?

legalzoom.com ^ | 06/2009 | Stephanie Paul

[Polybius]

I'm posting this to answer some questions I saw on another post as to why Gov Palin would tradmark her name. Think of Palin2012.com The domain is taken by a cybersquatter hoping to cash in on a Palin run. By trademarking her name Palin now has an easy way to kick the cybersquatter to the curb and use the domain name for her run. Notice also in the application it says for politcal reasons among others..... The tradmarking of Gov Palin's name is a big sign that Gov Palin is going to run for office.

Sarah Palin trademarked her name on the same day that Bristol Palin trademarked her name.

Is that a "big sign" that Bristol is running for office too?

Instead of trying to read tea leaves to predict Bristol and Sarah Palin's intentions, it is better to read the actual text of the applications.

Sarah Palin's trademark application:

The mark consists of standard characters without claim to any particular font, style, size, or color. The name(s), portrait(s), and/or signature(s) shown in the mark identifies 'Sarah Palin,' whose consent(s) to register is made of record. Class 35-advertising and business for information about political elections; providing a website featuring information about political issues (U.S. CLS. 100, 101 AND 102). First use 1-1-1996; In commerce 1-1-1996. Class 41-educational and entertainment services, namely providing motivational speaking services in the field of politics, culture, business and values (U.S. CLS. 100, 101 AND 107). First use 1-1-1996; In commerce 1-1-1996.

So, the mark "Sarah Palin" was trademarked for "information about political elections, .... information about political issues, .... educational and entertainment services, namely providing motivational speaking services in the field of politics, culture, business and values".

That sounds as if Sarah Palin wants to continue being a political cheerleader, educator and entertainer. From the time she left the Governorship to April of last year, that line of work brought Sarah Palin $12 million in income.

Bristol Palin's trademark application:

The mark consists of standard characters without claim to any particular font, style, size, or color. The name(s), portrait(s), and/or signature(s) shown in the mark identifies 'Bristol Palin,' whose consent(s) to register is made of record. For educational and entertainment services, namely providing motivational speaking services in the field of life choices (U.S. CLS. 100, 101 AND 107). First use 3-1-2009; In commerce 3-1-2009.

So, the mark "Bristol Palin" was trademarked for "educational and entertainment services".

It sounds like both Bristol and Sarah Palin want to continue being educators and entertainers, not office holders.

"I'd rather be doing this than in some stuffy old political office," ..... Sarah Palin's trailer for her TLC reality TV show

[unseen1]

I guess you didn’t read the article.

As far as Bristol’s trademark. It wasn’t the same day. Hers was on Jun 10. And Bristol has her own life seperate from gov Palin’s.

As far as Gov Palin’s trademark. Trademarks of names have increasingly been used to kick cybersuatters to the curb. It also will make it harder for her politcal enemies to use her name for attacks on her.

Maybe you should stop reading the Tea leaves in the hopes your little dream world will be made real.