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Question: Small business information needed?

(Posted by: Imtheprez on 2008-11-03 13:55:00)

I have a business name, license, insuransce and even a bond. I want to create a website with my company name but someone else has it. Their business name is same as mine but they are in a different state. If i copyrighted/ trademaarked my business name could I make them delete their website? Is it possible to own the rights to a business name?

Posted by: Katie on 2008-11-03, 14:02:06

Yes you can own the rights to a business name. However, you do not need to apply for copyright, technically as soon as you put something on paper, it is copyright as long as you can prove the date it was written. So if the already have the compnay name you want and are using it, if you use it too you might be breaching copyright laws and they could sue you for it.

Posted by: jriley5555 on 2008-11-03, 14:08:24

It will take lawyers and a lot legal wrangling. Take this guys case in point. nissan.com/ He owns this website but is being sued by Nissan Motor company for the domain name. This has been going on for awhile now. It may be easier to just use a variation of your company name. For the latest small business news, check out americasbestcompanies.com/ blog/ Default.aspx