Now, if I had a stage name Charlie Grey... and I am into semi-secular/quasi-spiritual/psychedelic comedy rap... But there is also an existing Charlie Grey in the Christian gospel music genre... Can I have my stage name too? Anyone know about answers to this, or where I could find answers? Thanks. Charlie Grey is not the name, but you know what I mean. Thanks.
Are you already going by this name or are you picking as a new stage name for yourself a name you know another musician is already using? If it is the former you are in a much better position. To knowingly pick the name of another musical act, when the name is merely made up and not your name, sounds like a pretty bad idea - legally.
Well, I sort have put the name out there some... the first name is my real first name.. so I get called that all the time. No one has used the last name with me. I decided if I was ever going to go for being an established artist, I would use this name. I decided this before I looked to see if another musician was using this name. And after I fairly firmly decided I would use this name.. maybe 6 or 9 months later I looked. It was not knowingly at all.
why use only the word after 6/9 months? You may use it now and mark it as your trademark We would not know if there is other person who has same thought as us could think of same name.
How does it help? Oh, maybe you want people's random guesses even if they contradict the law. My bad, I thought you wanted legal advice to keep you from getting into trouble.
Is the name registered, by you or him, with any performers' group? That's usually the end of the discussion in the performing arts.