How would i go about copyrighting or reserving rights for a word? How
much would it cost?

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Request for Question Clarification by pinkfreud-ga on 11 Mar 2003 15:07 PST

In the United States, a word cannot be copyrighted, but it can be
trademarked (if someone else does not already own the rights to the
word.) Do you want information on how to register a trademark?

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Clarification of Question by flupox14-ga on 11 Mar 2003 17:05 PST

yes

Hi! Thanks for the question.

The US Copyright Office specifically says that you cannot copyright a
word or phrase.

"Several categories of material are generally not eligible for federal
copyright protection. These include among others:"

"Titles, names, short phrases, and slogans; familiar symbols or
designs; mere variations of typographic ornamentation, lettering, or
coloring; mere listings of ingredients or contents"

"WHAT IS NOT PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT?"
http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ1.html#wwp

A trademark provides you a way to protect a particular word.

"A trademark is a word, phrase, symbol or design, or a combination of
words, phrases, symbols or designs, that identifies and distinguishes
the source of the goods of one party from those of others."

"What is a trademark or service mark?"
http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/tac/doc/basic/trade_defin.htm

Our next links provide the facilities and steps you must do so as to
apply for a trademark plus information on applicable fees.

"HOW DO I FILE A TRADEMARK APPLICATION?"
http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/tac/doc/basic/howtofile.htm

Currently the application-filing fee is $325 per class of
goods/services.

"APPLICATION FILING FEE"
http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/tac/doc/basic/appcontent.htm#fee

If you want to know more about trademarks, it would be wise to read
our next link.

Basic Facts About Trademarks 
http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/tac/doc/basic/

A particular case is an example of a word or phrase being trademarked.
Back in 1988, National Basketball Association coach Pat Riley was
about to achieve 3 consecutive championships with the Los Angeles
Lakers. He thought that the word "three-peat" would need to be
protected and so he trademarked it in order to presumably get income
from the word in the near future. But his team failed to get the
championship so sales in "three-peat" items did not happen. But
anyway, he was able to earn money when  Michael Jordan and the Chicago
Bulls were able to get 3 straight championships in the years of 1991,
1992 and 1993.

"Three Peat" by Riles & Co
http://www.snopes.com/legal/3peat.htm

When I searched for “three peat” at the US Patent and Trademark Office
website, I was able to find the ones registered by Riles and Co.

Filed: November 7, 1988
http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=jjs3dl.2.10 

Filed: March 4, 1994
http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=jjs3dl.3.7

Filed: March 30, 1994
http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=jjs3dl.3.6

Filed: April 26, 1994
http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=jjs3dl.3.5

Filed: August 12, 2002
http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=jjs3dl.3.1 

You can also make a similar search for a trademarked word through the
following link:

Trademark Electronic Search System
http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/gate.exe?f=searchss&state=jjs3dl.1.1 

Search strategy:
Search terms used:   "Pat Riley" trademark
Searched also the US Patent and Trademark Office website
     
I hope these links would help you in your research. Before rating this
answer, please ask for a clarification if you have a question or if
you would need further information.
     
Thanks for visiting us.      
     
Regards,      
Easterangel-ga      
Google Answers Researcher

Thank you