A business name identifies an entity in state business records, while a trademark identifies the source of goods or services. State approval of a business name does not automatically create federal trademark registration or nationwide exclusivity.

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.