Signs Here & Now

[OldPaint]

well i got a call from the pres...NOOOO..... pres of signs now...he wants me to change the name of my mobile unit SIGNS HERE & NOW says it is his right and hes protecting his good name. i sent him a pic of my truck, and i dont see any resemblance to his name or logo...but hes wants to put the lawerys on me....if i dont ....i told him it aint the name of my business...just a phrase "we do SIGNS HERE & NOW."
but he says i cant do this......hes off his mark...i think. way off.

[dccas]

IMHO opinion he's way off base, brought his logo up on website and not even close to yours, and the name, albiet close, is off too.

I say let em bring on their lawyers, and hopefully it'll work out

[Dennis Raap]

OP I agree with you also, hope it works out ok.

[geb]

I agree, the name of your company is "a sign mint", so who's to say you can't use an expression on your sign saying signs here and now. Does he have a copyright on the expression? I don't see how.

George

[THATgirl]

OP don't worry about it. They are just mad because their logo reads like crap. All the signs N** stores here.. you can only see the word 'NOW' until you get close up. NOW what?? Don't take any crap from them.

[smullen]

If you retain a lawyer or have any law friends, I'd give them a call...

While I don't think you are doing anything wrong, I worry that he may have deeper pockets than you and may be able to pay his lawyers to keep you tied up in court so that you are lossing way to much money to keep it up...

I have seen this happen to other companies....

I hope everything works out for you and quickly, so you can get back to keeping your mind on the shop and teaching us to be sign shop professionals!!!!

Let us know if we can do anything...

[jimdes]

Okay OP,
You ain't even close to his logo . . . if he thinks so, he's in the wrong biz. His corporation was filed in 1996 search here for records: http://www.sunbiz.org/corpweb/inquiry/corinam.html if you can prove that you've been using that phrase since before then, there's no contest. Gather all the pics of the truck and check for dates on the back.

Sounds like a desperate business riding a fast, slippery slope down to a grimacing end. I'd post your question on every sign forum there is and get it circulating to all the businesses you might deal with just to show how far fetched a company can get in their attempts to shut down competition.

With so many companies out there offering "professional graphics solutions", I don't see how they can have the tagline "The Professional Graphics Solution" . . . hmmmmm

[SignRover]

So repaint the mobile unit IN PHOTOSHOP and send him a copy with an apology.
The dufus will forget about it in a week.

The side of the panel van should read: Signs not now.
It's the opposite of their name!

[nodrenim]

O.P. I hope you prevail in this matter. I think he is probably on an ego trip. Or maybe he has been in one too many hurricanes! I definitely would get a lawyer's opinion on this ASAP. I hope you squash the bug before he gets any bigger. I know you will keep us posted. Good Luck

[arbys]

However much of an a**hole the SignsNow president may be(and he may not be at all), they have "NOW" trademarked in relation to signmaking. IMHO, "Signs Now" and "Signs Here and Now" are quite close. Whether it be a word, a phrase(slogan), or an image, any use of NOW to identify a sign business is probably infringement. Of course you can use the word "now" in your literature, but as for slogans and logos, probably not.

I'm surprised SignsNow would care about a small (no offense) sole proprietor enough
to threaten him with legal action, but getting a call from the president(and not some low level employee or rep) indicates the seriousness of the matter. Some people are natural born a**holes who like to sh*t on others for the fun of it (again, the prez may not be one). Unfortunately, as is the case too much of the time, might unfairly equals right. They can outgun you.

Until you get a couple of C&D orders, I'd continue using the phrase. Then, unfortunately, you'll have to use a NOW synonym. However, if you can prove you were using the word NOW before SignsNow trademarked it, you might have a case, but how much money would that cost to fight?

I'd like to tell you to "fight it", but practically, your best bet is to back down(eventually). My heart says fight; my head says surrender.

Bastards.

I bet the president reads these forums and is grinning at this thread.

[Dave Drane]

"professional graphics solutions",
They don't even produce a half decent logo for their own use. Vinyl Jockey!!! Tell the ***hole you were painting signs when he was still crapping in his nappy. These types would like to tie up every concievable sign slogan they can think of and then make us buy them to use ourselves. I hope you win out on this one Joe.

[Pat Whatley]

That would be great. Show them you've been using Signs Here and Now longer than they have used SignsNow and threaten to sue them if they don't cease and desist.

[jimdes]

Just a fleeting thought OP:

You go into a "Signs Now" franchise, order a sign and see how long it would take . . . . If they can't make it "Now" they're probably guilty of false advertising.

:Big Laugh :Big Laugh :Big Laugh :Big Laugh :Big Laugh

[OldPaint]

been 2 weeks nothing in the mail. i sent hin a picture of my truck and i belive after they saw it....not much they can do. it is not my BUSINESS NAME....it says right on the front fender of the truck "mobile unit of A SIGN MINT". the line SIGNS HERE & NOW, has an implied "we do" signs here and now...as a mobile sign shop.....so i dont see any reason to do other then iam doing..