Quote Originally Posted by rudebox View Post
NOT correct Lee.

Anybody can add a "tm" after their name, but in order to legally register it as a trademark in the US you must document that it has been actively used in commerce as a trade name, representing a product line or type of service.

...at least according to our very capable IP attorney
Then i would suggest you fire your IP rights attorney and get a new one.

ANYONE can trademark their name, whether it has been used as part of a business or not.

Our competant attorneys in the UK (Rouse+Co in case you would like to check them out) actually told me several years ago that i could trademark my legal birth name if i wanted, along with the 'handle' i use on some of the industries message boards.

So LEE WINDSOR + EUROPEAN LEE can both be trademarked.

I would suggest you look up tradmark opposition law, there have been several cases even in the past few years where an individual has trademarked their name and won a case because another individual or company used that in relation to advertising a product or servce.

I would also hire a new intellectual property rights attorney because he/she has told you incorrrect information.

Regards,

Lee