Ok, we know that the Federal Bureau of Investigation is part of the government, and Federal Express is not. Then there are the Federal Reserve Bank and the Federal Debate Commission which are both private organizations, but they sure try to look like parts of the government. Most folks think they are government agencies.Is there any ‘controlling legal authority’ over the use of the word Federal? Can I start calling myself the Federal Wallet Investigator, make a nifty uniform and go looking for samples? Who could complain?
The Government of the United States of America can’t apply for trademarks for its official offices. It’s not the Federal ™ Bureau of Investigation. After all, they’re not selling anything.
However, Federal Express is.
You can also use American and National and words like that.
As long as you’re not portraying yourself as an agent of the government when you’re not, I don’t think anyone will complain.