Can I protect a trade name nationwide? Written By Sandra McCarthy Founder, A People’s Choice Fact Checked There is no national registration of trade names. Generally, businesses, including corporations, protect their trade names by registering their trade name as a service mark or trademark, if the trade name also functions as a service mark or trademark. Because of the legal complexities involved, we recommend that businesses obtain private counsel to get advice on how to protect a trade name in interstate commerce. By Sandra McCarthy|April 28th, 2014|Corporation Column 1, Corporation FAQs|0 Comments