The person I spoke to with the state said they did not offer any support to claiming posssession of a name or infringement. All the counties around here indicate the same thing on their websites.

I checked with my attorney and he indicated that same from the state or county perspective. Basically saying that all of those registrations will/should help with a legal battle over the infringement, but that is an expensive proposition and not something he specializes in.

So, I spent the next day filing all the appropriate paperwork to claim Absolute Inspection and my Absolute Inspections in the three counties I work in and at a state level. I also filed for a trade/service mark for that name. Unfortuantely I had not really thought to do that everywhere before.

Interestingly, I got an email from the guy that night. He claimed to have made an honest mistake and tried to say he would only be working in west tarrant county. That he had not known about me until he opened a bank account and they told him. As I did not give my name when I called an asked how long they had been in business, they must have been expecting the call/contact. That they had already made cards, and shirt etc, so sorry.

I have not responded yet. Waiting to make sure all my filings get in. Also figure it won't hurt to let them stew a bit. Next week or so I will send them a certified letter about it. I am going to push to try to make them cease and desist. I don't really want to waste money in these slower times fighting in court and making lawyers money. Honestly, I don't go to Ft worth very often at all. In the metroplex, people dont call an inspector from an hour away - there are too many choices closer to home. So I don't really care if he works over there. My main concern is that he is doing google/internet advertising/adwords in Dallas and Collin counties - my main areas. So I figure to push hard at first and then offer a comprimise that he stop his internet stuff in my counties. Since I have 5 years and tens of thousands of dollars in my advertising and company compared to his shirts and cards.

How did company name research come out?