Question about company name

[Dayna Bedrosian]

I had created a pretty unique company name a couple years ao and last month I stumbled upon someone using the same comany name and just added a word to the end so that they could create the group.  Do I have any rights or am I SOL?  I woiuld appreciate any advice on this matter.  Also I am in the process of registering the company as a RL LLC not sure if that matters either.  Just basically not sure what to do.

[Pamela Galli]

I don't think it matters -- many of us have asked for some kind of program so we could do things like register our business names with LL and be protected (for a fee) but apparently that would be too hard.

[Jennifer Boyle]

Did you register your name with the US Patent and Trademark Office?  If you did, and if someone else is using the name for a similar product, you do, indeed, have rights.  If you didn't, you don't, and why would you think that you did?

[Dayna Bedrosian]

I have it registered as a LLC, but I will take the extra step and register it with the USPTO.  The other people used the name out of malicious intent.  Shame people have to be that way, but after I file with USPTO I can serve LL witch a cease and deceits. Just a shame that people are like that really.