Can I get into any trouble naming my company/site after a place and/or that name is also used by another company? For example, New York Consultants?
Hi RovingCalypso, It's wise to try to avoid using a trademarked name. Background info on trademarks is available at: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trademark To help you avoid inadvertently infringing another company's trademark, (if you're in the USA) I suggest you do a search for the name you intend to call your company / site / URL - at the US trademarks database: tess2.uspto.gov/bin/gate.exe?f=tess&state=e2bg4m.1.1 If you do happen to infringe another company's trademark (especially if you're in the same industry), my understanding is that company could attempt to protect its trademark via such means as requesting that you stop using its name, or by applying to have your domain name revoked. The latter will probably be increasingly used in the future to thwart cyber-squatters/ typo-squatters. (Of course I'm not implying that that's your intention). Hope this helps Murray
I believe that choosing a geographic name must not be major issue because New York is not yours or anyone else, but a common place to many people. the problem is mostly associated to the combined words falling into infringement or the issues that Murray pointed you at.
I can add that in some countries you have to pay for using the name of the country or the city. I suggest to you check this in advance.
Thanks on that info, whats the situation in the US? do you have to pay here for city/place name usage?