Name protection

[Kevin Haggerty]

So, for those of you who have been following, some of this is repeat info, but the short summary is this:

We were working with landlords who pretended to believe in our idea to bring coworking to our community, jacked up the rent to an unbelievable amount they knew we couldn't pay so we have to walk away, and are now trying to do the space without us -- which we now suspect was they plan all along.

Additionally, I've gotten wind that they even intend to try and use the name we'd been using for the movement, Cowork Gloucester VA.

I own and have always owned the domain (www.coworkGloucesterVA.com), as well as the Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts with the same namesake.

Yesterday, we created our LLC with the same name, filed our trade name paperwork with the County, got our business license with that name, and, I think, checked all of those boxes.

Additionally, I also filed for the trademark online, and here's where my question comes in:

In order to finalize the trademark, I need to pay another $275 for the filing fee. I'd rather not so that if I don't have to. Do you think the trademark is overkill, or is it necessary? With all the other things I've squared away, even without the trademark, wouldn't infringement be easy to prove if they try and use our name?

Thanks!

[Heather Lavergne]

I would say that it's a fairly small amount to pay to protect something you have worked so hard for.

Watch the movie Founder...

Heather Lavergne
512.689.2698

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[Alex Hillman]

I am not a lawyer - if you're playing the "protection" game then you should definitely be asking a lawyer, not us ;)

But here's my .02: at this stage, this is another distraction.

I don't have a horse in this race, and I don't care how you spend your money, but you have to ask yourself...what are you actually protecting here? Are you in this for making your community better, or to spend your days waging war with a couple of knuckleheads in your neighborhood?

To quote a longtime friend: there's two ways to build the biggest building in town. One is to tear everybody else's towers down. The other is to build the biggest tower in town. 

You already avoided going into business with them. Now step above them by working with abundance mindset. Work on making your community so great that nobody could take it from you no matter what they try. 

If you want to start a coworking space, you're gonna want people who are business savvy...but also who are generous and collaborative. Otherwise nobody wants to help each other. 

Which means it's so important for you to lead from the top, and resist the instinct to clam up and defend yourself every time somebody else does something stupid. 

Again. I have no horse in your race. I'm just noticing your reactiveness, calling attention to it, and suggesting that you've got a longer game you can play.

-Alex

p.s. I also just watched "The Founder" - great example of the many reasons I'm suspicious of JV's ;)

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The #1 mistake in community building is doing it by yourself.

Better Coworkers: http://indyhall.org

Weekly Coworking Tips: http://coworkingweekly.com

My Audiobook: https://theindyhallway.com/ten

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[Kevin Haggerty]

Wow, Alex. I think you nailed it. I hadn't totally committed to just moving on and ignoring them, and I think you justifiably brought attention to that. I sincerely do appreciate it.

I'd been lying to myself (or trying to) about the lack of hurt or anger I was feeling. I'm a very trusting person, and these kind of ordeals mess me up a little. I just don't understand being or thinking that way.

I'll do my best to truly move on and focus on the mission and the community. We're being interviewed by the local paper today, and we sign our lease tomorrow. There are many positive things going on right now, and I'll make that my focus.

I appreciate the encouragement and tough love.

[Trevor Twining]

So much this I can’t even articulate it beyond shouting: “THIS!"

--------------------------------------------

Trevor Twining

Cowork Niagara

http://coworkniagara.com

Home of Niagara’s independent workforce

twitter: @coworkniagara, @trevortwining

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[Angel Kwiatkowski]

@alexhillman You are a national treasure.

[Alex Hillman]

Hugs, y'all. 

Kevin - Glad this sunk in as intended. I know from where I speak, because I know how hard it is to live by consistently. 

But trust me...it's worth it. :)

------------------

The #1 mistake in community building is doing it by yourself.

Better Coworkers: http://indyhall.org

Weekly Coworking Tips: http://coworkingweekly.com

My Audiobook: https://theindyhallway.com/ten

--

[Piotr Grabowski]

Not registering trademark for our coworking space in Poland in the beginning of 2013 led us to miserable treadmark confilcts with 2 institutions already. It delayed our trademark registeration for 4 years already, we went through a long legal way proving that we were the first to using the name. Money spent, a loooot of time wasted and those 4 years later we still have no final protection granted. Now it is a matter of few months, but still, if we acted 4 years ago, we didn't wasted so much time and money.

So the advice from the deepest bottom of my heart: f*** this $275, I'm telling you it's nothing if you think serious about what you are doing.