Trade name, brand, logo, brand, domain name: what differences?
Verified 01 January 2023 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
A company needs to be identified for stand out of others and to be visible to the public. The trade name, brand, logo, brand and domain name do not have the same status. Before to use them, you must check if they are available, if they are not already used by another company. Otherwise they could be challenged by competitors.
If you're a merchant, we're talking about name salesman.
If you're a craftsman or a liberal, we're talking about names professional.
Communication tool
It is a tool for communication.
He is optional. It is, however advisable to choose one.
You are free to choose it. This may be your last name, a pseudonym or any other term that was invented.
Please note
The trade name may be mentioned in the RNE: titleContent and the SCR: titleContent.
What is it for?
It is used to identify your business and your products in the marketplace with your customers and competitors.
You use it during your pitch of presentation with the banks and financiers of your project.
Your business or professional name appears on your business cards, company letterhead, contracts, quotes and invoices (in addition to mandatory particulars).
Multiple possible shapes
The trade or professional name may take the following forms:
- Brand of your product or activity
- Sign of a local or store
- Logo
- Domain name of your website
But it can also be different and add to a brand, a logo, etc.
Check availability
Before choosing a business or professional name, it is best to check that it has not already been taken by another entrepreneur.
To check its availability, you can consult for free the databaseInpi: titleContent.
It gives access to company names, trade names and signs registered in the RNE: titleContent and the SCR: titleContent.
Search for proof of company registration
How to protect it?
You become proprietor commercial or professional name from its 1re use in a document (flyers, advertisements, invoices, etc.).
Definition
All that identifies your product or your company in visible can become a mark.
Example :
The name, on slogan, on logo of your product or company can become a brand.
What is it for?
Your brand is used to identify your business and to you differentiate from your competitors.
It must therefore be easy understandable by as many people as possible.
It must not be confusing or detrimental.
How to protect her?
The name, slogan or logo of your product or company must be registered as a trademark with theInpi: titleContent.
Your brand is protected for 10 years.
The cost of filing a trademark depends on the number of items you want to protect. Count between €50 and €300.
You must do this in 2 steps :
- Check the availability of the brand
- Deposit your brand
The 2 steps are done with theInpi: titleContent.
1 - You check the availability of your brand (name, logo, etc.) by the following search tool:
Check availability of a brand, logo, domain name
2 - You register your brand thanks to the on-line service next:
Definition
A retail brand is a inscription, shape, image or logo.
It is affixed to a building (shop, shop) or located on land.
It symbolizes and designates the professional activity you carry out in this room.
What is it for?
It allows customers identify your commercial premises.
It must respect urban location and authorization rules.
How to protect her?
A sign may be protected either as a mark either as drawing (2D) or model (3D).
Make
It is protected for 10 years.
The cost of filing your brand depends on the number of items you want to protect. You have to count between €50 and €300.
You must do this in 2 steps :
- Check the availability of the sign
- Deposit your brand as a brand
The 2 steps are done with theInpi: titleContent.
1 - You check the availability of your brand by the following search tool:
Check availability of a brand, logo, domain name
2 - You place your brand as a brand thanks to the on-line service next:
Drawing (2D) or Model (3D)
The cost of the deposit is €70.
Its protection lasts 5 years.
You have to check if your design or model does not already exist.
Availability of a drawing or model
You have to do the online filing of your design with the Inpi with the following service:
Definition
Do you want to create a website to sell products or services online or to publicize your business?
The domain name is the name that identifies your website.
He allows localization and access to pages of this website by Internet users. For this you must reserve a domain name.
How to protect it?
The next card tells you how to protect the name of your website.
Reporting and registration in the National company Register (NSR)
Online service
Search tools
National Institute of Industrial Property (Inpi)
National Institute of Industrial Property (Inpi)