Trademark Dear Abby rights

[puddinlover]

I'm very confused if some one owns the rights to "Dear Abby"... because I want to start a site that is going to be like the Dear Abby news paper column but online and I really am not sure if some one owns the rights to Dear Abby? If not can I freely use the "Dear Abby" name and idea?

 

[jacksgal]

I believe that name is copyright protected so my advice would be not to use it

 

[puddinlover]

Darn, well thank you the help!

Now is (example) Dear Barb ok to use? Or is the idea itself copyrighted?

 

[Michael Wechsler]

The term would be "trademarked" and I don't believe the term you want to use is trademarked. The US Patent and Trademark Office has an online search tool. If you plan to put a great deal of time and money into this project, it may be worth looking into a trademark.

 

[puddinlover]

The term would be "trademarked" and I don't believe the term you want to use is trademarked. The US Patent and Trademark Office has an online search tool. If you plan to put a great deal of time and money into this project, it may be worth looking into a trademark.

ok thank you guys for the help!