Company naming?

jamesf85

I'm starting up a new business. I have had a name picked out for months, it's one that I'm very happy with and I feel it's very important to have a great name in the industry I'm going into. Here's the problem,today I have found out there is another company exclusively in Toronto, Canada operating under the same name. I'm wondering if this means I'm unable to use that name. The thing is they are in the same industry but we would not be competing for customers or anything.

Anyone with any knowledge on this it would be very much appreciated.

Take2Sean

Doesn't make a difference unless you actually want to create a worldwide brand but if they are a production company in toronto for example and you want to set one up in Dublin you aren't ever going to cross paths.

You will be able to name the company the same. If websites are important it may be worth checking out what is available. If there is a UK company with the same name it may be an issue. I had a company that had an identical name to a company in the USA and it made no difference,

hope this helps

jamesf85

Take2Sean wrote: »

Doesn't make a difference unless you actually want to create a worldwide brand but if they are a production company in toronto for example and you want to set one up in Dublin you aren't ever going to cross paths.

You will be able to name the company the same. If websites are important it may be worth checking out what is available. If there is a UK company with the same name it may be an issue. I had a company that had an identical name to a company in the USA and it made no difference,

hope this helps

This helps a lot, I was just hoping from a legal point of view it wouldn't get me into bother! It's a pretty random name and I'm shocked that anyone else has it to be honest!

Thank you for your response

Take2Sean

No unless you're opening a chipper called McDonald's you should be fine..

RossieMan

If you've thought of it, chances are at least 1 thousand others have too.


Good luck with your business.

Take2Sean

RossieMan wrote: »

If you've thought of it, chances are at least 1 thousand others have too.


Good luck with your business.

Exactly!

Graham

It's probably worth checking if you chosen name is a registered Trademark too.

Personally, in an age when Google makes every local company a global company I'd be choosing a different name. Legal arguments aside, I couldn't see the point in deliberately making search engine raking harder than it needs to be.

Do a quick test now, search google for:

your chosen name
your chosen name + your chosen industry/market

The results are what you're going to be competing with for online eyeballs.

RossieMan

google searches are location based really, so a company of the same name in the US will have almost no bearing on a company based here.

Graham

Google searches are not exclusively location based, particularly where the name doesn't suggest a local only business. Without knowing the name or the target industry it's not possible to be any more specific which is why I suggested a Google search of the OPs chosen name.

jamesf85

It's a small restaurant based in Toronto so I won't be competing for customers and anyone searing for restaurants in dublin shouldnt be brought to their page etc

Graham

jamesf85 wrote: »

It's a small restaurant based in Toronto so I won't be competing for customers and anyone searing for restaurants in dublin shouldnt be brought to their page etc

In which case you're probably safe SEO wise for the reasons RossieMan suggested.

identer

You both are in different timezone and customer scope. It no big deal.

Bazdonegal

This can become a major issue I had a friend in a business that had to rename his business after getting sued by another Irish company down the south which had the same name. There can be crossovers in google search and also more importantly in social media marketing. This carry's a level of risk it depends how much the Canadian company wants to protect there company name and brand.

Intellectual property rights can run into many thousands of euros as this type of law is specialised and expensive to get a solicitor to represent you in it. I would imagine you will get away with this but don't be surprised if you get an angry threatening email or call from the company at some point.

RossieMan

if its an irish company its a different story.

But read the thread before you post. your post is completely invalid.