Can I call my new business "Ferrari Ventures", or is use of the word "Ferrari" illegal ?.?

Question

The business has nothing to do with cars, but I think it is rather catchy

Answer 1

While Ferrari is probably best known for cars, they also have about 50 pending or registered Federal trademarks for a variety of other products and services (I did a quick check of the records at the USPTO). Your intended usage may not be cars but could easily be within their scope of trademark right usage. Also, it's a famous mark & famous marks are afforded protection from dilution. Here's what the USPTO has to say about dilution:

"The owner of a famous mark shall be entitled, subject to the principles of equity and upon such terms as the court deems reasonable, to an injunction against another person’s commercial use in commerce of a mark or trade name, if such use begins after the mark has become famous and causes dilution of the distinctive quality of the mark, and to obtain such other relief as is provided in this subsection." Check the link for further details about how a mark is deemed distinctive or famous.

All that being said, I suggest contacting a trademark attorney if you're wanting to use this name. He or she will help you in determining if this name is worth pursuing for your particular usage.

Hope that helps!

Answer 2

I think if you just used Ferrari or use the prancing horse logo, you'll get your butt sued.

But Ferrari is like Toyota, Honda, Suzuki, in that it's a name of a guy. So legally speaking there is no way Ferrari autos can sue you for anything.

So Ferrari Ventures is okay. Unless Ferrari registered that name along with million other Ferrari related names. Then you'll just have to find one no one has registered yet.

IE Ferrarinotsofastcars, Ferrariisbs. Ferrariispos, Ferrariisoverrated. Something they would never ever in a million years register. LOL BTW, anything before the 512TR is a waste of money and a slug. They only became acceptable after the 360 Modena and F40. The only exception is the 288GTO. But they only made 200 or so of those.

Answer 3

Generally 2 companies can share the same name if the underlying products and services do not compete and are not distributed in the same trade channels

However the Ferrari brand is so strong you could be facing what is refered to as a dilution problem, i.e. using a famous brand's reputation to attract direct business to yourself. I would advise that you simply choose a different name at the outset, unless the word 'Ferrari' forms part of your own birth name.

Answer 4

If your name is Ferrari and you are not in the car business or a car-related business you might be OK. Worst case is you start using the name and they get a cease and desist order and you have to change names.

Answer 5

Ferrari is a copyrighted trademark, so it is illegal. I heard once that Starbucks sued someone for calling their coffee shop "Sandbucks Coffee," or something like that. Even though the coffee shop was built before Starbucks was big, Starbucks won the lawsuit.

Answer 6

No, it is not. An unlicensed pharmacist could be a pharmacist who's appearing responsibilities with out license. An undocumented worker, on the different hand, is not any distinctive than an unlawful alien. with the aid of fact all of us understand the numerous words used for "unlawful extraterrestrial beings," i think of this is risk-free to bypass on from the pointless waste of capability in debating be conscious selection. in case you desire to be credible, locate some thing with substance.

Answer 7

Get a good business atty and ask them.

People use the name Jaguar all of the time in their business names and aren't faced with a suit.

It's all in the wording. I believe you'd be okay, but double check.

Answer 8

You should check with an attorney, but it depends what type of business you are using it for. It is already trademarked for cafes, cars, cosmetics, driving schools, snowboards, etc. Check out the list at the US Patent and Trademark Office.
http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=toc&state=onvl52.1.1&p_search=searchss&p_L=50&BackReference=&p_plural=yes&p_s_PARA1=&p_tagrepl%7E%3A=PARA1%24LD&expr=PARA1+AND+PARA2&p_s_PARA2=Ferrari&p_tagrepl%7E%3A=PARA2%24COMB&p_op_ALL=AND&a_default=search&a_search=Submit+Query&a_search=Submit+Query

I would suggest you try to trademark your name; if the USPTO rejects it, then you can't use it.

Answer 9

Ferrari is copyrighted so you would have to pay them

Answer 10

If your name is Ferrari, then you can use it.