What is the difference between a DBA and a trademark?
A DBA is a name registration used for conducting business under an alternate name. A trademark identifies and distinguishes the source of goods or services and may carry separate state or federal rights.
Under Swyft Filings' DBA service, customers provide the proposed DBA name, jurisdiction, business category, and a brief description. The filing is then reviewed and submitted to the appropriate state or county office. Once approved, the DBA certificate or registration can be accessed through the customer account, subject to the procedures of the filing jurisdiction.
A trademark is different from a state business-name filing or DBA registration. Trademark rights concern the use of a name, logo, phrase, design, or other source identifier for particular goods or services. State approval of an LLC name or DBA does not itself create federal trademark registration or guarantee that the name is free of trademark conflicts.