We are starting a title company and want to name it the same name as a Financial Company. For example, the financial company's name is "bravo" and it's trademarked. Could we still name our title company Bravo Title? Thank you so much for your input!
It all depends on the exact word, but it sounds like you could be risking a trademark infringement claim.
consult a lawyer - possibly not. are any of your names (anyone in company) bravo? are you in a completely different field (not similar AT ALL, complete opposites)? etc..
No, it's not anybody's name. The one company issues credit cards and our company would be doing title (for mortgages and refi's) so maybe that's too close
It doesn't matter if someone in the company has the same name. I don't care if you were born with the name Dell Computer, you can't use it for a tech business. He already stated the usage, and they would be similar enough to cause problems. Unless the name is a generic descriptive, they would likely be infringing. If the other company is very large, and they "think" it is infringement - they will bury you in legal fees. They need to see an IP attorney and discuss the exact name.
A trademark is the visual representation of your company and can include the name or logo associated with your small business, its services or its products. When someone else uses your intellectual property, it can be an infringement on your rights, especially if it is deliberate or results in lost earnings. Registering a trademark is your legal protection if there is a trademark violation of your small business.