Who really owns a name? - legal question

Ghosthunter · Post by **Ghosthunter** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 7:58 pm

Got a question if anyone knows the answer.

As you know I am part of paranormal research group, we have been around for a while now and all of a sudden we get this email from someone who sounds like he is crazy claiming he owns the name of our group and requests we change it. He did link us to the site, but his site is not even anywhere near the name of what he is claiming.

I guess my question is we are both non for profit groups, is there anything we need to really worry about or just ignore him>

Izzo · Post by **Izzo** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 8:03 pm

Ghosthunter wrote:Got a question if anyone knows the answer.

As you know I am part of paranormal research group, we have been around for a while now and all of a sudden we get this email from someone who sounds like he is crazy claiming he owns the name of our group and requests we change it. He did link us to the site, but his site is not even anywhere near the name of what he is claiming.

I guess my question is we are both non for profit groups, is there anything we need to really worry about or just ignore him>

Being in the day and age of frivilous lawsuits i'd at least check into it .... once you get the green light ... tell him to take off

Ghosthunter · Post by **Ghosthunter** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 8:04 pm

I dont even know who to talk to? Probably cost moeny to talk to a lawyer

This is so silly....i cant stand dealing with this crap..lol

Brent · Post by **Brent** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 8:07 pm

well

what's your name, and what's his name

Ghosthunter · Post by **Ghosthunter** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 8:11 pm

Here is our site

http://www.nnjpr.org/

and here is his

http://www.hauntednj.netfirms.com/

Persoanlly i think his website looks horrible..but i guess that doenst matter..lol...plus there barely any info there...the guy sounds like a nut..

He claims he been there since 2001..no clue..when we searched for our name..no one even had it at the time...

It would suck to have to change our name now, since we have been in the papers twice and getting our name out there.

poptom · Post by **poptom** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 8:11 pm

Unless he has registered a service mark (similar to a copyright) for the same name you are using I think you can simply ignore him.

--Tom

Ghosthunter · Post by **Ghosthunter** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 8:12 pm

How do you find that info out poptom?

Also how would we do that if it is not taken to prevent this from happening again?

Izzo · Post by **Izzo** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 8:17 pm

Ghosthunter wrote:I dont even know who to talk to? Probably cost moeny to talk to a lawyer

This is so silly....i cant stand dealing with this crap..lol

Most initial consultations are free ..any copyright lawyer could help you and like Poptom said ...unless they have a copyright on it .. f them

drdoug99 · Post by **drdoug99** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 8:25 pm

i dont know but the guys site wouldn't even load in firefox...java got all screwed up and I had to shut down and restart my browser..

http://forum.freeadvice.com/

try asking at these forums..

Ghosthunter · Post by **Ghosthunter** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 8:28 pm

drdoug99 wrote:i dont know but the guys site wouldn't even load in firefox...java got all screwed up and I had to shut down and restart my browser..

http://forum.freeadvice.com/

try asking at these forums..

yeah his site really bad..LOL

thanks for that link man that forum is huge

poptom · Post by **poptom** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 8:32 pm

Not a copyright, actually, more like a trademark. There would be a little "sm" attached to the name. You would need legal help to protect the name.

Maybe some useful info here:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=se ... gle+Search

Brandon_k_W · Post by **Brandon_k_W** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 8:35 pm

Change yours to 'Paranormal Research of North Jersey': P.R.N.J.

thepieman · Post by **thepieman** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 4:47 am

His domain name is Hauntednj.com but he has North Jersey Paranormal Research right above the pic with the cigarette smoke...that looks so cheesy. I'd sue his butt cuz hes gonna end up making u guys look silly if they confuse you with him. LOL

Pie

morbidpete · Post by **morbidpete** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 5:07 am

can't help ya much..but your site looks better...

thepieman · Post by **thepieman** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 5:16 am

Hey Look at the Way Back Machine.
He must of just recently added that "Started in 1991" Crap becuse it makes no mention of it. The furthest back is 2003 that his site was cached. Id grab a copy of his page and hold on to it.

http://web.archive.org/web/200306220639 ... firms.com/

horsemen_ · Post by **horsemen_** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 6:31 am

well you r not the first one to go tho this thier is a reason why the wwf changed thier name after 20 years to the wwe
so first off you have to see what company was in businnes first that will go along ways in court then you need to get your name copyrighted

hear a lil back ground on the
World Wide Fund vs World Wrestling Federation
http://www.lordsofpain.net/news/2002/ar ... 997764.php

http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchi ... wf-ap.html