Supposed I want to start and register a new company called corealpha networks, inc. in Texas. Doing a corporation search in Texas for corealpha returns no business as being registered with that name or anything containing corealpha in general. Searching the federal trademark search returns no active names for corealpha either. I then go register the domain name corealpha.net for my new company.
Doing more research before I incorporate the company I get online and search corealpha. Nothing distinctive comes up, but after digging around a bit more I find that one website lists a company called corealpha communications, inc and their phone number. I find they are located in Pennsylvania, and do corporations search in Pennsylvania. The name CoreAlpha Communications, Inc. is registered in Pennsylvania and active. They offer communications products which are similar to what we would offer under the name corealpha networks. The CoreAlpha Communications, Inc also owns the toll free number 1-800-Core-Alpha (which when called someone answers saying CoreAlpha Communications) and www.corealpha.com (but there is nothing on their website). Doing more research online proves that CoreAlpha Communications, Inc is part of a larger communications firm, which operates under many names, one of them being CoreAlpha Communications, Inc.
Am I legally able to register and use the name CoreAlpha Networks, Inc if I register in Texas and get the name CoreAlpha federally trademarked? What are the chances of getting in legal trouble assuming that CoreAlpha Communications, Inc knows we are operating under CoreAlpha Networks, Inc and would like me to stop using this name?
The corealpha name is used above for a real-life name that I would like to use but prefer not to disclose on a public website. Please pretend that everywhere above that says corealpha really stands for the distinctive company name I want to use.
Thanks,
CJA
Doing more research before I incorporate the company I get online and search corealpha. Nothing distinctive comes up, but after digging around a bit more I find that one website lists a company called corealpha communications, inc and their phone number. I find they are located in Pennsylvania, and do corporations search in Pennsylvania. The name CoreAlpha Communications, Inc. is registered in Pennsylvania and active. They offer communications products which are similar to what we would offer under the name corealpha networks. The CoreAlpha Communications, Inc also owns the toll free number 1-800-Core-Alpha (which when called someone answers saying CoreAlpha Communications) and www.corealpha.com (but there is nothing on their website). Doing more research online proves that CoreAlpha Communications, Inc is part of a larger communications firm, which operates under many names, one of them being CoreAlpha Communications, Inc.
Am I legally able to register and use the name CoreAlpha Networks, Inc if I register in Texas and get the name CoreAlpha federally trademarked? What are the chances of getting in legal trouble assuming that CoreAlpha Communications, Inc knows we are operating under CoreAlpha Networks, Inc and would like me to stop using this name?
The corealpha name is used above for a real-life name that I would like to use but prefer not to disclose on a public website. Please pretend that everywhere above that says corealpha really stands for the distinctive company name I want to use.
Thanks,
CJA