trademark
Trademarks: Can I start an app if an unrelated trademark already exists?
<p>I'm trying to start an app in the skin care category. I'm trying to come up with names, and one of the ones I'm considering is <code>Bree</code>.</p>

<p>However, when I search USPTO for "Bree", I see a ton of results: <a href="http://tmsearch.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=toc&amp;state=4809%3Aux0o5h.1.1&amp;p_search=searchss&amp;p_L=50&amp;BackReference=&amp;p_plural=yes&amp;p_s_PARA1=&amp;p_tagrepl%7E%3A=PARA1%24LD&amp;expr=PARA1+AND+PARA2&amp;p_s_PARA2=bree&amp;p_tagrepl%7E%3A=PARA2%24COMB&amp;p_op_ALL=AND&amp;a_default=search&amp;a_search=Submit+Query&amp;a_search=Submit+Query" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://tmsearch.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=toc&amp;state=4809%3Aux0o5h.1.1&amp;p_search=searchss&amp;p_L=50&amp;BackReference=&amp;p_plural=yes&amp;p_s_PARA1=&amp;p_tagrepl%7E%3A=PARA1%24LD&amp;expr=PARA1+AND+PARA2&amp;p_s_PARA2=bree&amp;p_tagrepl%7E%3A=PARA2%24COMB&amp;p_op_ALL=AND&amp;a_default=search&amp;a_search=Submit+Query&amp;a_search=Submit+Query</a></p>

<p>I even see repeats of "Bree". Does that mean I can start the app without having to worry about trademark issues?</p>

<p>The most active one is by bree.com, but that's selling bags: <a href="http://tmsearch.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&amp;state=4808:mdl1q0.2.26" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://tmsearch.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&amp;state=4808:mdl1q0.2.26</a></p>

<p>As a general principal, under US law (and that of several other countries as well, but I am less sure there) trademarks are protected only in the field/industry in which they are actually used in trade. Protection is also limited by the geographic area in which trademarks are used in trade. There is an exception for "famous" or "widely known" trademarks which get additional protection. </p>

<p>So a trademark for "Avalon" as a brand of beer would not prevent using "Avalon" as a motor oil, say. It might prevent using "Avalon" as a wine label. </p>

<p>However, weather any of the existing trademarks "Bree" is close enough for your use to be an infringement would require a trademark lawyer or other expert to answer. </p>

<p>If you are able to register your proposed trademark successfully, you will have good reason to think it is not infringing. of course in the US (unlike some countries) a trademark can gain some protection from mere use without registration, and you may wish to go that route (lower fees).</p>
