{"id":4948,"date":"2016-04-04T10:47:49","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:47:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/smallbusiness\/intellectual-property\/can-i-trademark-the-appearance-of-my-website.html"},"modified":"2024-05-22T02:21:31","modified_gmt":"2024-05-22T07:21:31","slug":"can-i-trademark-the-appearance-of-my-website","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/intellectual-property\/can-i-trademark-the-appearance-of-my-website.html","title":{"rendered":"Can I Trademark the Appearance of My Website?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Can I Trademark the Appearance of My Website?<\/h1>\n
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\n By Taylar-Simone McCants, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Amber Sheppard, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
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Editorial Note: We earn a commission from affiliate partner links on FindLaw. Commissions do not affect the editorial integrity of our legal content.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n \n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

There are so many things that a small business owner may need to trademark. For example, their business name, service mark, or brand name. You might wonder: Can I trademark the appearance of my business’s website?<\/p>\r\n

The short answer is: Yes, you can trademark elements of your website.<\/p>\r\n

As a startup or entrepreneur, you should protect all the intellectual property you create. Trademarking the appearance of your website is one way to provide legal protection for your brand identity.<\/p>\r\n

Since the internet is a visual medium, people creating websites seek a unique look that distinguishes them from others. One question is whether someone can protect the visual appearance of a website from copying by others. This article answers everything you need to know about trademarking the appearance of your website.<\/p>\r\n

Unique Appearance Under Trademark Law<\/h2>\r\n

The heart of trademark protection is to distinguish one person’s products or services from another’s. Typically, this occurs through a word, symbol, or combination of the two in conjunction with one entity’s goods or services.<\/p>\r\n

You can get a trademark registration for the distinctive visual elements of a website, such as:<\/p>\r\n