*EDIT:* I just found out who the owner of this proposed new sign supply place is...
The oldest sign shop on Maui was recently sold. The new owner of "Maui Signs" is the dirtbag thief putting me through this "so mad I'm shaking" crisis today
...I already checked to see if they got the name registered with the Department of Commerce & Consumer Affairs. They did!
I can't believe it. 10 years ago I tried to register "Island Sign", & they turned me down because some other company had the name "Island Sign Service" on a completely different island.
So, I registered "Island Sign & Screenprint" instead. But I just registered "Island Sign LLC" this fall because I am restructuring my sole proprietor status next month.
I just don't see how they (the D.C.C.A.) felt this company should be able to have so similar of a name right in my backyard when they were such watchdogs about similar names 10 years ago even on different islands.
Of course, this is not as serious as if they were a sign company... & even though sign supply companies do sometimes sell cut vinyl or some other directly competing products or services... I think this is unlikely in such a small market, because they only have about 30 shops they will be relying on for all their business... & to sell cut letters, or any sign would probably alienate all 30 shops... BUT STILL...
I don't like it!]
I'll get their mail... their bills... they'll get my checks... my phone calls... & what if joe-lowball buys his crap there & I stick with my off-island vendors... what are they going to do with those wrong numbers resulting from MY marketing & branding.
I play music with a bunch of lawyers & we jam again Monday... so I will be getting referrals to the lawyers who specialize in this & may be able to get comped some initial "cease & desist" letters... ARRRRGGGGGHHHH!!!!
Does anyone have any experience with the legal process to challenge this other company?
I plan to follow my initial lawer consultation with my own contact with this company.(I don't think they are open yet & may not have a location yet... I found out about them from a flyer with a POBox address & phone number in my town, inviting feedback regarding what supplies they may be able to interest me in)
I will plot my course based on the lawyers suggestion, but as of now I think I may try the "get further with sugar then vinegar" approach first... but I may have a legal letter in my back pocket when I ask them to reconsider the name for their own future branding identity purposes as well.
Any other suggestions or knowledge of similar experiences I would benefit from hearing?
[ December 10, 2005, 07:51 PM: Message edited by: Doug Allan ]
I guess the lack of responses indicates our collective unfamiliarity with the subject.
I don't know what recourse you have, but what's the point of the sugar approach? Are you trying to get them to want to change their name? If you are one of the 30 potential customers they have, they must know you exist.
I wouldn't start a sign business with a market potential of 30 customers, would you? If I did, I wouldn't irritate one of them even before I opened.
How do you know for sure what they will be selling? If you can stop them from using your name (almost), you should, pure and simple.
-------------------- Paul Luszcz Zebra Visuals 27 Water Street Plymouth, MA 02360 508 746-9200 paul@zebravisuals.com Posts: 483 | From: 27 Water Street, Plymouth, MA 02360 | Registered: Jul 2003
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This is similiar. One of my customers came in an had just bought a francise "RHINO LININGS". We started doing the preliminaries when they called and said that they were being challenged by another Rhino Lining franchise, about 30 miles away. It seems Rhino had a policy of no more than 1 dealer in a 30 mile radius. This was too close for the other dealer and he put up a stink. My customer couldn't get the franchise. They ended up going with Ultimate Linings and rented some space and were doing quite well.
The guy that had the Rhino franchise 30 miles away then opened up another one on the same main road only about 1.5 miles east. My guy than had to move when they buildings owner died and the family sold it. They got a building almost directly across the street, in a not so new building like the Rhino guy, and set up shop. It wasn't long before the Rhino guy went out of business.
My thought is that when someone doesn't have business/work/personal ethics, and know how to get along with the other small business owners in teh community, they just don't seem to last.
[ December 10, 2005, 01:34 PM: Message edited by: Laura Butler ]
-------------------- Laura Butler Vision Graphics & Sign 4479 Welch Rd Attica, Mi 48412 Posts: 2855 | From: Attica, Mi, USA | Registered: Nov 2000
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Doug, We see that often here. Our big atrraction is The Royal Gorge so about 20% of all Businesses are named Royal Gorge This or that or Canon City Yada yada. Since the Name has another Word after it I don't think you have a recourse. Don't take my word for it but from what I have seen your Hosed.
posted
Laura, I must have missed the point of your post. How does one franchisee raising an issue about a possible area infringement make him wrong?
If it was me that had put out the funds and exerted the energies for a franchise, you can bet that I would protect my area, too.
I just don't see how the Rhino guy was unethical for protesting another Rhino franchise within his company protected area. I don't see how they were unethical for opening another Rhino franchise within the boundaries they were entitled to.
I guess I am missing something here.
-------------------- Bruce Bowers
DrCAS Custom Lettering and Design Saint Cloud, Minnesota
"Things work out best for the people who make the best of the way things work out." - Art Linkletter Posts: 6451 | From: Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Registered: Jun 1999
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Paul, yes, they do know I exist. They sent out a flyer mentioning various sign supplies & asking for feedback on what supplies I might need. Mine had my address printed out on a mailing label. Under any other name, this would be great news since availability of materials, freight costs, delays in shipping, legal issues with hazardous materials are huge issues in Hawaii. (I'm currently waiting 2 weeks for a can of one-shot because I let myself run low on Dark Green... & it has to come by barge )
The sugar concept(I finally remembered the saying uses "honey vs. vinegar... I couldn't remember last night, but I knew it wasn't syrup ) ...would be to nicely let them know I WILL push this issue if needed, but since they are not open yet, probably don't have a sign, the logo on their flyer sucked worse then my grade school art projects... why don't they cut their losses & get their own identity... NOW" ...I'll even take over their registration of "Island Sign Supply" & reimburse those expenses.
I'll tell them I understand they have some other expenses related to changing the name, even this early in the game, & I sincerely want to resolve this civilly... & although it is important enough to me to finance a legal challenge, I would be willing to redirect some of the un-spent legal fees in nominal compensation ($500+/-)
Laura, I guess your point, as I see it, is that when the law governs a decision... the second rhino guy was forced to comply... but was still allowed to compete... just not with a protected name for that territory... but when the first rhino guy tried to expand to the territory of the newly named second rhino guy... there was no legal protection... & good business practices (or seniority for that region & the associated client base loyalty) were able to prevail in the end.
I agree fully with Bruce in supporting the rights of the first Rhino guy in the first skirmish... but I credit the second guy with adaptability & perserverance. I don't see a lot of relevance to my situation, but appreciate any brainstorming to further this discussion... since I can't make much progress until Monday... but this is starting to consume my thoughts.
[ December 10, 2005, 03:12 PM: Message edited by: Doug Allan ]
posted
I tend to agree with Bills comment. We have them same situation here with the word's "Darling Downs" (the name of this region) or even the word "Downs" as a prefix to a business name. Interested to see what your legal advice says.
Agree on the "soft" approach to start tho. Especially if you offer to do all their new signage at "mate's rates"
Or registration laws are real tight here. I met a guy at one of my first Letterhead Meets with the surname John. Evidently he had tried to register John's Signs! No way!
posted
Yeah, we get 100's of business starting with the name "Maui" ...100's starting with "Valley Isle" @ 100's starting with "Pacific" & 100's starting with "Island"
If they named themselves Maui Sign Supply, or Pacific Sign Supply... I think they would be running into the same problem with Maui Signs, or Pacific Signs... Maybe I'll suggest "Valley Isle Sign Supply" ?
posted
I have a similar problem too. I am Blair Signs, and I get e-mail, phone calls, mail, etc for national signage supplier Blair Sign Co. I am blairsigns.com and they are blairsign.com. There are people that actually go to my website, which shows no signage of the type Blair Sign does, and still use the e-mail link, get the phone number and call me, or the address to send stuff to me. I get job site specs, pictures, legal items, billing info, and more. I used to send a standard reply with the correct info, but most people wouldn't even reply with a thank you, and some even replied back that I was wrong, that they sent it to the correct address. It has even been so bad as their in house people can't even send e-mail to the right address. Now I have changed my e-mail settings to filter out all of their stuff.
-------------------- Dana Blair Blair Signs Wooster, OH www.blairsigns.com
If sign makers go on strike, is there anything written on their picket signs? Posts: 835 | From: Wooster, OH, USA | Registered: Jul 1999
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posted
well, I just edited the initial posting for new visitors to this thread... & for those who read it earlier... here is the latest info I just found out:
I just found out who the owner of this proposed new sign supply place is...
The oldest sign shop on Maui was recently sold. The new owner of "Maui Signs" is the dirtbag thief putting me through this "so mad I'm shaking" crisis today
Right across the street a computer shop opened called Pak.. When I complained to the sate,, the sate said.. They are under a different catagory of business. IT does not apply..
Of course I got their bills and bullcrap. And, when they closed I got their bill collectors in my office.. Nutin I could do about the name usage..
-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5274 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
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quote: the state said.. They are under a different catagory of business. IT does not apply..
that's what I thought... untill today!
Now that it turns out the owner is also a sign shop... well regardless of the law, it is still an unethical practice by any standards... & one I feel I have a legitimate claim to dispute, but hopefully this new fact increases the likleyhood that the law will be on my side.
posted
Gee I wonder how long it will take for the other 29 shops to find this out. I know your steaming Doug, but I have a strong feeling this guy's goose is cooked long before he gets off the ground.
-------------------- Bob Rochon Creative Signworks Millbury, MA 508-865-7330
"Life is Like an Echo, what you put out, comes back to you." Posts: 5149 | From: Millbury, Mass. U.S. | Registered: Nov 1998
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thats the other thing I was so consumed by my own, already all encompasing, point of view... that when I realized it was a competitor attempting to do this, it took a half an hour before I even realized how unlikely it is that any of my other competitors will be real thrilled to support their competition by purchasing sign supplies from him.
posted
Hey Doug. In this instance, timing may be everything. Just imagine, if you will, allowing this fledgeling sign supply business, to get fully stocked, BEFORE letting that tidbit of information out to your fellow competitors. Generally, sign supply places without any local customers don't fare too well. Can you see yourself, and some of your competition picking up some supplies at a bankruptcy liquidation, for as little as .10 cents on the dollar, within a couple of months time?
He who laughs last.......etc.
-------------------- Ken Henry Henry & Henry Signs London, Ontario Canada (519) 439-1881 e-mail: kjmlhenry@rogers.com
Why do I get all those on-line offers to sell me Viagara, when the only thing hardening is my arteries ? Posts: 2684 | From: London,Ontario, Canada | Registered: Feb 1999
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Doug . . . I totally agree with your stand in this matter . . . but,
can I play devil's advocate for a minute?? 'Cause *you said something, that made me wanna ask you:
*Quote: "Yeah, we get hundreds of business starting with the name "Maui" ...hundreds starting with "Valley Isle", and hundreds starting with "Pacific", & hundreds starting with "Island"."
So my question is based on my own logic . . . why would'nt you wanna name your business something totally off-the-wall or different??
The 'native' business naming is the same deal everywhere, and around here too . . . for example, in Montgomery, everything is Montgomery 'something', or starts with the county name, or Dixie-something, or the state name, on & on.
To me, it would seem that a person, especially in a directly creative industry such as ours, would wanna get away from such common names and go with something entirely different, or if 'native-based' at least very creatively catchy . . .
I once thought to make a word play with the Heart-of-Dixie' and call my shop 'Heart Core Signs' . . . lol...but I was afraid of getting only strip joints for customers . . . . LOLOL . . .
ANYWAY . . . For example, a lot of towns in Alabama, including ours, are right on the Alabama river and SO much stuff around here is: riverveiw, river run, river side . . . I once thought of going with 'Grande River Signs' which is pretty different at least in my town, but then they changed the name of my town to Valley Grande. Now EVERY new business coming into the community is starting to have 'Grande' in the name... so I'll proll'y nix that idea.
I know you're not gonna change the name of your business now . . . but I'm just wondering how mnay businesses are named after some cute & unusual fish found in your waters, or something unusual LIKE that . . . I mean... I know you don't wanna be 'Lei' Signs . . . LOLOL
You know what I'm sayin' tho', right . . . ??
Doug . . I guess I'm saying 'Island Signs' is obviously NOT a very creative or different sounding business name for some one as creative and different as yourself . . .
posted
Years back there was a sign guy that opened a supply store next to his sign shop. Eventually several local shops contacted the distributors and manufacturers of the products and said that they couldn't compete with this guy because he could get the products wholesale and underbid them and still realize profit. The distributors made him sell to himself next door at the same price as they sold to everyone else. Think it worked? Soon he went under. He became disliked by the sign community and his attitude turned sour. It just took time for that to happen and hurt people during the interim.
PS. Maybe he'll sell everyone Avery products and you'll float to the top???
[ December 10, 2005, 10:06 PM: Message edited by: Rick Sacks ]
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6720 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I really dont see how youre going to have recourse especially with cease and desist unless they are going around actively presenting themselves as and soliciting/accepting business as you.....if someone calls them and asks if theyre isnald sign and screenprinting do they say yes and take the order and deliver on it or do they say no thats not us blah blah. Are they using their whole name to conduct business or do they shorten it to island sign when they answer the phone,on biz cards and promo items,ads etc. Unethical,a big maybe,,,and unethical in no way means illegal. You can be unethical as a mofo and still be 100% within the color of the law.....thats just about the basis of the whole legal profession. Use the 'reasonable man' test...remove emotion from it and ask yourself if a reasonable man would make the assumption that island sign and screenprint was the same as island sign supply,90% chance that the court will say no even though the everyday head up their ass sheeple on the street might not. We were Miller Supply Co from 1963,and subesquently had over the years,Miller Pest Control Supply,Miller Pest Control,Miller Bar supply,and even had a Miller Paint and a MIllers Supplies pop up,and always got the same answer pretty much more or less as curtisdespite what lawyers said....anytime one of those bastards has the chance to file paperwork and hit you for $200to shuffle it around and posture with one another they they're on it like flies on a turd. If he keeps the name Maui Signs or some other business entity at that address as a seperate sign company,thats nobodys call but his. What if he gets your letter and decides to come after you for registering island signs llc as a new business entity after they registered island sign supply and claim its you trying to capitalize on their name? In all seriousness if this does go the lawyer route i would edit this post or ask steve to pull it so when they do a net search for doug allan or island signs maui you arent dissing him in public and giving him ammo for going the other way. i know none of that is legal advice or even meant to be,but wny not use his name exposure to gain more for yourself? get some simple postcards that say something like we're not island sign supply,we're island sign design with your address,phone number,web address and 20 things of what you do on it and a tagline like we sell signs not sign supplies and send em to every business you can think of on the island even other sign shops.
-------------------- Gavin Chachere Plotter in the garage,New Orleans La.
"Sgts Shugart and Gordon again request permission to rope down to crash site two" Posts: 1223 | From: new orleans.la. | Registered: Mar 2000
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quote:Originally posted by Sheila Ferrell: ...So my question is, based on my own logic . . . why would'nt you wanna name your business something totally off-the-wall or different?? ...I guess I'm saying 'Island Signs' is obviously NOT a very creative or different sounding business name for some one as creative and different as yourself . . .
I bought Island Sign 9 years ago. It was strictly a screenprinting business, printing signs & decals. There was no vinyl & no computer... but there were some good accounts & a 20 year continously run history on Maui.
quote:Originally posted by Rick Sacks: Eventually several local shops contacted the distributors and manufacturers of the products and said that they couldn't compete with this guy because he could get the products wholesale and underbid them and still realize profit. The distributors made him sell to himself next door at the same price as they sold to everyone else.
excellent angle Rick!! just like the Gemini rep was mentioning here the other day... they try very hard to ensure they are not selling wholesale letters to our clients. Well, the big wholesalers of goods to sign supplies are also probably not generally willing to offer those prices to small shops ...although I can't actually see a financial hardship for the paper trail of selling to yourself at a higher price.. it's still "yourself" .. 'cause in the end, the supply biz could justsubsidize the sign shop with cash instead of cheap vinyl... but interesting angle anyway.
one reminder, for clarification... my legal name will simply be "Island Sign LLC" in 3 weeks... and as for the issue of them trying to turn the tables, our State office (DCCA) spells out that the "registration" doesn't guarantee ownership of the name... if someone comes forth later with proof of using the name first, the later registrant will have their registration revoked. This is on identical names (or those ruled as "too similar" by that entity)... so this does not protect me in the current scenario, but it does protect me in a scenario of anyone trying to interfere with my current registered name.
quote:Originally posted by Gavin Chachere: ...if someone calls them and asks if they're island sign and screenprinting do they say yes and take the order and deliver on it or do they say no thats not us blah blah. Are they using their whole name to conduct business or do they shorten it to island sign when they answer the phone,on biz cards and promo items,ads etc. Unethical,a big maybe,,,and unethical in no way means illegal.
point taken, & I appreciate your input Gavin, & everyone else as well. I will add that while unethical in no way means illegal... on a very small island in the middle of the ocean... unethical may well mean ill-advised. This entire island community has many of the "small town" realities one might expect from everyone knowing everyone... & everyone talking to everyone.
I think my chances of prevailing will lie in the small town significance coupled with the fact that I really think the "dirtbag thief" is really a decent guy & didn't anticipate friction... & on whatever course of action is taken, being taken very soon... before he incurs too much more investment in the name Island Sign Supply.
Tell them what if YOU go bankrupt & they get sent all YOUR bills & debtors, since their name is similar... now wouldn't they prefer something with more individuality to their name...?
(& P.S there's a business with a name similar to ours in Qld, about 800km north of here, and I occasionally get his bills, & sometimes his stock orders too. I presume he's a nice person & does good work. The business name is not something I intend to fight over, I've had mine since the 1980s, but if it came to the crunch I could think up another better name for ourselves these days.)
Also there's a Jon Signs in South Australia, so business naming in Oz doesn't seem to cross state boundaries. I'll try & find a photo, for Bushie's benefit!
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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Here it is- sorry, the spelling was nearly there... I took the photo in March this year when we went to SA.
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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Doug, You do have legal recourse. As long as your business name was registered first, and there is the possibility that your customer base will be confused by the two similar names. Major companies sue over this type of thing daily. Domino's Pizza was originally "Dominic's" but was challenged by a small local pizza shop of the same name. Domino's changed their name, just before they became a franchise.
-------------------- Tim Whitcher Adrian, MI Posts: 1546 | From: Adrian, MI | Registered: Mar 1999
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posted
Doug, I saw your original post, but was just too speechless to respond. While their name may be legal, it certainly is very unethical.
Perhaps you should contact the 30 shops in the area & let them know that when they purchase from this supply house (who is obviously trying to ride the coattails of your marketing) they are in reality putting money in the pocket of their competitor. See if any of them will back you in "asking" for the name to be changed. Ask how would they feel if he chose to use their name & added "supply" to the end. If you can get them to sign a letter asking this, he may see the error of his ways & realize that alienating his customers this way in such a small market is suicide.
If I were in your shoes, I'd be thrilled to get a local supplier. BUT, only if that supplier were on the up-and-up. This guy does not seem to be. If his market is the 30 shops there, he had to know you existed. If not, he's blind, braindead & flat out stupid for not researching his market before starting this supply house.
Maybe I missed it, but if this owner already has a sign shop, why not just add "supply" to the end of that name? Has he already trashed his reputation? Is he trying to trash yours? Is he uncapable of marketing and instead wants to benefit from your marketing by making it seem your shop & his supply are related?
Please keep us posted on this. Initially, approach this nicely. If that don't work, go for the jugular.
-------------------- Chris Welker Wildfire Signs Indiana, Pa Posts: 4254 | From: Indiana, PA | Registered: Mar 2001
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I'm sure by now everyone has seen the recent story in the news about Starbuck's going after a small coffee shop in Oregon where there isn't even a Starbuck's in a hundred mile radius, using the *owner's* own name for the business - Sam Buck's
Starbuck's won the suit on grounds that the name could lead to confusion.
-------------------- "If I share all my wisdom I won't have any left for myself."
Mike Pipes stickerpimp.com Lake Havasu, AZ mike@stickerpimp.com Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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posted
Yikes, while I'd be ****ed off if I was in this situation, I think some of you guys are being a little hard on the guy. "Island" seems like a pretty common prefix for businesses in that area, using it doesn't seem as nefarious as some of you make it out to be -- I don't think the guy is trying to ruin Doug's reputation or trying to capitalize on his marketing.
Lots of areas have pretty common names like this...if his name was something really unique, it might be something that the guy did on purpose. As it is, I think he went with a pretty "generic" name for his business -- if it was a body shop, it might be "Island Collision Repair", Doug's having a shop probably had no impact on his choice.
So, simply contacting him as soon as you can (that is, before he throws more money into the name) might solve the whole thing. I'd start out as nicely as possible...if you drop a threat or otherwise act anything less than friendly, he might fight to keep the name just to be an ass.
Good luck -- he certainly shouldn't get to keep the name...hopefully he won't browse the board here and realize he is a dirtbag theiving scumbag
-------------------- Ryan Long Magic Light Neon Sign Co. Crawfordsville, IN Posts: 132 | From: Crawfordsville, IN | Registered: Jul 2005
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posted
Kissy, I also wondered why he didn't open "Maui sign supply" ... but I was talking to another guy who did a few installs for this guy back when he first started telling folks about his plans & I guess he intends to serve a lot more then Maui's 30(+/-)shops... he intends to serve all islands... so the name choice makes sense... I just hope I can get him to consider something like Hawaiian Sign Supply.
Mike, my "trade name" is currently only registered with the State. Registering a "Trade Mark" at the Federal level as on my list to research tomorrow.
Ryan... if I was "Island Collision Repair" I would ne be bothered by this. The comparison is lightyears apart. If I was "Island Collision Repair", & he was "Island Collision Restoration" (& he owned an auto repair shop) ... then it becomes similar.
I do appreciate your support however, & don't mean to take issue with your comments. For the most part, your comments confirm support of each point I have made & a little validation always helps when one is unsure of the best approach.
While some replies may fear more ill intent then I personally suspect (now that my initial emotional reaction has died down)I hope if he does "browse the board" ... he will also see my later comment:
quote:Originally posted by Doug Allan: ...I really think the "dirtbag thief" is really a decent guy & didn't anticipate friction...
[ December 11, 2005, 10:48 PM: Message edited by: Doug Allan ]
posted
Suggest Hawaiian Sign Supply. If he doesn't seem keen on it, remind him that if you screw up as Island Sign and trash your reputation that it's also going to affect his as he's chosen such a similar name.
-------------------- Chris Welker Wildfire Signs Indiana, Pa Posts: 4254 | From: Indiana, PA | Registered: Mar 2001
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quote:Originally posted by Doug Allan: Ryan... if I was "Island Collision Repair" I would ne be bothered by this. The comparison is lightyears apart. If I was "Island Collision Repair", & he was "Island Collision Restoration" (& he owned an auto repair shop) ... then it becomes similar.
Oh I know Doug -- I wasn't trying to make a comparison in that way, I was just saying that it's likely that he had no malicious intent and would have thrown "Island" in front of whatever business he had. The feel of some of the comments here was that you were targeted specifically, and while that is of course possible, I think the most likely explanation is that he went with one of the most common business name prefixes for your neck of the...Pacific Ocean
Like I said, I don't think he should be allowed to have such a similar name in a similar line of business...but don't give him reason to try to keep the name just out of spite. Have you contacted the DCCA yet?
-------------------- Ryan Long Magic Light Neon Sign Co. Crawfordsville, IN Posts: 132 | From: Crawfordsville, IN | Registered: Jul 2005
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posted
AutoZone started out as AutoShack. The commercial shop I worked for lettered a few vans with the AutoShack logo. We had to redo them a short while later. RadioShack sued and forced them to change names.
-------------------- George Perkins Millington,TN. goatwell@bigriver.net
"I started out with nothing and still have most of it left"
I don't think you need to be angry to discuss this with your attorney (and get one if you don't have one) and take whatever legal recourse you have right now.
Most attorneys recommend the first step is a simple letter notifying them of you intentions. This usually works and ends the matter.
If they meant to ill, they will realize they messed up and correct it. It's unlikely they have so much invested in the name that they are willing to risk a lawsuit to defend it.
But every day, their investment in the name grows, and when they open, they'll feel married to the name, so act now.
Don't confuse professional with "nice".
-------------------- Paul Luszcz Zebra Visuals 27 Water Street Plymouth, MA 02360 508 746-9200 paul@zebravisuals.com Posts: 483 | From: 27 Water Street, Plymouth, MA 02360 | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
I agree with Paul. Don't let it get you so worked up that it impairs your judgement. Personally, I think turning it over to an attorney would be the better thing to do. That way you can concentrate on continued professional service to your customers.
I'm a strong believer in letting bastards deal with other bastards.
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) ...would be to nicely let them know I WILL push this issue if needed, but since they are not open yet, probably don't have a sign, the logo on their flyer sucked worse then my grade school art projects... why don't they cut their losses & get their own identity... NOW" ...I'll even take over their registration of "Island Sign Supply" & reimburse those expenses.
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