That Name Is Taken

Thursday 2nd June, 7pm – 8pm

Online masterclass via YouTube - Watch Now


What do Liberty X, Death From Above 1979 and Linkin Park have in common? They all had to change their names due to legal disputes. This can be a costly and destabilising process for an emerging artist. This online masterclass with Ailish McKenna (ALCM Media) focused on the checks and balances that need to be in place before you launch your project and the potential consequences of basing your project on a 'borrowed' name.

Top tips from the session

1. Search the following areas to establish if your name is sufficiently unique

- Google

- YouTube

- DPS - globally, ideally. [rather than any one individual territory] e.g. Spotify, Tidal, Bandcamp

- A Domain Name Register [google domains, go daddy etc] - Social Media Platforms and Handles

- The Trademark Register - https://www.gov.uk/search-for-trademark

- Companies House - to determine if there is a limited company already registered with that name.

Further guidance; https://www.gov.uk/how-to-register-a-trade-mark/start-your-application

2. Understand that trademark law may not be applicable but there are 'passing off claims' that may result in injunctions.