If I have a name I'd like to use as the production company of my films (ex Lion Gate, A Band Apart ect - not those, they are just examples) How would I go about becomming the owner of that name? How much $, ect. I really like the name I'm usign right now, and doubt very much that anyone else has used it.

Thank you,
Bryan

One thing you might choose to do immediately is register the internet domain name. (One cheap, reliable registrar is Hostway (http://www.hostway.com).) This reserves the domain name so that only you can use it, and can serve as an example of use of the name in interstate commerce. It also sets a definitive latest date on when you began using the name. Following that, search the US PTO (http://www.uspto.gov) for prior registrations to ensure you won't be infringing on anyone else's mark.

Here's another thread of identical title and topic, (http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5343) wherein much more is said on the subject.

A federal trademark registration would be the best way to obtain protection. Of course having the domain name is great too. Federal trademarks are not terribly difficult or expensive to obtain. It's not quite as easy as registering a copyright, but nowhere near as difficult as getting a patent.