Perrysburg, OH asked in Business Law for Ohio

Q: I have a business in ohio registered name since 1990. I just found out another company is using my name, same business.

They have the exact business in New York State I have, and have terrible reviews. People are pulling up the business name and thinking we are the other bad business. What can I do?

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1 Lawyer Answer

A: You need to speak with an attorney about possible legal action. Whether or not you have a legal remedy, or can stop the other business from using the same name, depends on many factors. If they have been using it a long time, there might not be much you can do. You might have waited too long, and they are in a different state. If you had registered your business name as a service mark and/or trademark with the US Patent and Trademark Office, you might have had better options. Use the Find a Lawyer tab to find a local business attorney who is familiar with intellectual property law to consult and review all the facts and give you advice.

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