http://www.uspto.gov/Each design you make like your "pictures" must be marked trademarked.
Words can be signature marks.
Domains can be trademarked.
The process is somewhat simple:
You need $350 for EACH item trademarked. You must wait 6 months for someone else to object to your marks then its either granted or denied. If its similar or confusing it will be denied.
Trademarks must be "unique terms" for example Commerce can be defined as two parts:
The "Commerce" cannot be trademarked since it has been used years before by millions.
However when combined "NOP""Commerce" it is very specific term and can be trademarked but why, since they own the domain name already. However, If you forget to renew your domain name or if its stolen you will get it back 99.99% of the time...with money.
If you own a domain name first and before any trademarks you win everytime. Now the opposite is not true. Example: The flower company 1800Flowers didn't think the INTERNET was useful. They were a phone order company and someone else took there exact domain name, They sued and won the domain name back to them, but it costs MILLIONS to do so. You can thank our legal system for the high costs of litigation.
Just remember, if you find someone using your trademarks you have the legal right to sue them but you will lose big money in doing so in legal fees. I know what the USPT office will say but I have vast experience in the courts. If you sue someone who "has no money for the lawyers" to collect you will be paying on an hourly basis or if your lucky..the lawyer will take 1/3 of what they collect......... 3 years down the road but they will go bankrupt anyway so your legal fees are gone.
Trademarks are valuable tools for Valuable property.
Most violators will stop with any notification from you otherwise you need to go to court.
Mike