thank you so much for the response [i]again chrissie.

here's another curve ball...would you recommend FIRST registering your trademark, servicemark, copyright at the STATE level (california) prior to the uspto?

i am a small home based business but have a great idea for a corporate name (service mark) and name for a product extension (trade mark)that will be used for merchandise items so the resources are tight. i just want to protect the name for the future. i plan to offer my services in santa clara and san francisco county and due to the beauty of the internet/retail chains offer my merchandise items online/retail across the nation (big picture thinking here).

again, thanks in advance--you've been very helpful!