What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? = California
Hello,
I am interested in starting up a small media firm (web design, hosting, print etc). I reside in Los Angeles, California.
I was very interested in a company name and negotiated the purchase of the domain, actually both .com and .net (wasn't cheap either). So that's all set.
Let's say company is called EXAMPLE MEDIA.
Not too long ago I found that EXAMPLE MEDIA GROUP (same as my name but ends with group) was registered in my state in 2008 as a limited liability company. After much research it appears they are a publishing company, so similar to media.
Now I am very concerned that I won't be able to register the company and do business legally:
1. Would registration be an issue if a company name is the same except for less a word?
2. If there is nothing I can do to register legally, would I be able to register the name in another state somehow and legally operate the business?
As a note the name before media is not a special name like Google, it is like a common word like a type of fruit, or type of tree, etc. I don't think such things can be trademarked? Also the .com domain I acquired is registered from 1999 (it was used by a defunct business and has been inactive for a number of years). The other company's website was registered back in 2009 and is under construction apparently. It is the same as mine but ends with group again.
I don't know if any of that matters, but I'm really confused about what to do now.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Ken
Hello,
I am interested in starting up a small media firm (web design, hosting, print etc). I reside in Los Angeles, California.
I was very interested in a company name and negotiated the purchase of the domain, actually both .com and .net (wasn't cheap either). So that's all set.
Let's say company is called EXAMPLE MEDIA.
Not too long ago I found that EXAMPLE MEDIA GROUP (same as my name but ends with group) was registered in my state in 2008 as a limited liability company. After much research it appears they are a publishing company, so similar to media.
Now I am very concerned that I won't be able to register the company and do business legally:
1. Would registration be an issue if a company name is the same except for less a word?
2. If there is nothing I can do to register legally, would I be able to register the name in another state somehow and legally operate the business?
As a note the name before media is not a special name like Google, it is like a common word like a type of fruit, or type of tree, etc. I don't think such things can be trademarked? Also the .com domain I acquired is registered from 1999 (it was used by a defunct business and has been inactive for a number of years). The other company's website was registered back in 2009 and is under construction apparently. It is the same as mine but ends with group again.
I don't know if any of that matters, but I'm really confused about what to do now.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Ken
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