Last name + Service = TM issue?

[Joe N]

Hey all,

Just a general question to keep myself out of trouble.

If I were to own a generic last name + service name (i.e. SmithPlumbing), and then were to approach all plumbers with the last name Smith about buying the name, is this TM infringement?

My guess is yes (bad faith being the big issue), but thought I'd ask.

 

[aramyus]

There are no general rules, but in many cases, such names are not trademarked.

You should check each name against TM databases