Thoughts on duplicate names

[ladysherry]

I would like ya'll feed back on this issue.
I want to name my home haunt soon to be professional haunt but found out the name is already used by another pro haunt in Missouri (i'm in Texas)
Should I think of another name or go with the one I picked out?

[Hauntiholik]

It's never a good idea to use a name that is already in use. The pro haunt could choose to use you.

If you go pro yourself, you'll want your haunt name to stand out and not be confused with another haunt.

[Frighteners Entertainment]

It can be legal, though if the website is taken that may be a road block for you.

[fontgeek]

If you are going pro, then I'd get a unique name, especially if you or the other haunt with the same name do or will sell goods. The threat of suits for copyright infringement, defamation of character, etc., are a very expensive risk to gamble with, not to mention the issues with websites and such. If you are a home haunt only, and with no website or products for sale, then you probably wouldn't have much of a problem, if you do use someone else's haunt name, you might inform them and ask permission. I doubt there will be much of an issue with them, but it's cheaper to ask now than it is to pay later.

[Eric Striffler]

Absolutely come up with your own name.

Last year we discovered a haunt in another state that was running a brand new event for 2011 using the name of our haunt, which we've been running for a few years, (and basically using our haunt's concept... but that's a different story haha).

It's just awkward.

[fontgeek]

It will get tougher and tougher to have either a haunt name or a theme that is uniquely yours as time goes on, but copying someone else's haunt, especially a pro haunt copying a pro haunt, hurts all parties involved, not to mention the haunt industry as a whole.

[erik1]

I would def. be original in my name choice.. No need to fight someone for real estate that is already taken.

[DynomiteDaniel]

In my case I am a home haunt with years to go before I even think about anything pro related. Having said that, I searched website addresses and found something that no one had and took it. Names are everything and the website address, in this day and age, needs to match the haunt name.

[PropBoy]

If your a home haunt I have no issue with calling it what you want. Heck you are a home haunt you could change it every year to fit new themes if you change themes every year or even some time.

Should you go pro, that is another story. Again names are not totally unique. Small businesses may have the same name as another business in another state in a completely different industry.

As stated above, names are no longer unique, web sites are.

[Allen H]

I wouldnt worry about it at all- My haunts name is trail of terror- there are about 200 haunts named trail of terror-big deal. There will always be another haunt with your name, that is not uncommon. Do not use the same name as a haunt in your market- patrons dont cross markets so there will be no confusion.