Luscious Garage Luscious Garage | Hybrid Specialists This is the bench mark shop for Hybird cars bar none. This shop started from the ground up on Hybird cars.
We're not answering because we're too busy thinking. Prii Fix I'm not entirely sure. I know that a different company owns the trademark in India because Toyota forgot to get the trademark and another company beat them to it. I'm sure they'll have it here.
I'm not a lawyer, but I suspect Toyota would be all over you if you use "Prius" in your business name, although their registration of the word is for only "Automobiles, namely, hybrid motor vehicles and structural parts thereof" and does not include repair facilities. Here's all the US trademark registration records for the word; there are a couple of non-automobile-related marks registered for other industries.
Trademark registration can be a tricky thing. Since there are two different (live) trademarks listed other than the one's registered to Toyota that is using Prius in the name, one being a fishing rod and the other being for energy conversion, I think the trick will be how the name is used. I do agree that Toyota may give you a hard time if you try to use the name as part of your company. I doubt very seriously they could do anything if you used something like "Pri" instead of "Prius" in the name. You may want to consult a lawyer as lawsuits can get real expensive if you lose. Pri is a term used basically here on Prius Chat. There are quite a few listings for "Pri", but no listings whatsoever for "Prius Place". Again, check with a lawyer just to cover all ends.
Why don't you give us some details of what you can do and what you plan to do. Maybe some of the members can offer you some valuable advice, or give you a better understand of the market. I think a good name is important, to certain degree. But there are more important things that you need to worry about.
I am going to be doing Maintenance and troubleshooting on Toyota Hybrid's. I understand that opening a shop that specializes in a certain kind of car is difficult, but I am currently working at the local airport with a Mooney Specialist. I mean they don't even make the planes anymore. I was going to school to be a AMP but I hate working on planes. I was thinking about getting a job at toyota and let them send me to school but I don't want to be one of those people that work at a stealership. If once I get going and I feel that it's something that would work well I will go to school for what I need.
I agree that a good name is important. But you might consider not picking a name that has anything to do with either Prii or hybrids in general. What if you want to also work on other cars in order to grow your business? You can always use it as a tag line. Something like: gmcneil05's car shop / hybrid specialists.
Prius Connect Prius Connection Interestingly, the family Toyoda started the car brand Toyota... hmmm To avoid the possible trade mark issues, why not take a page from the Toyoda/Toyota playbook: Preus Connect Preus Connection Note: As a positive quality, "Preus" has no dictionary definitions. However, it does appear as a last name in bibliographies. Unfortunately, what might argue the strongest against this subterfuge is that "Preus" was a supervillian in the Superman comics series: "Preus possesses powers similar to those of Superman, such as superhuman strength and speed, flight, invulnerability, x-ray vision, and enhanced senses. Unlike Superman, Preus can fire beams of black energy from his eyes that strike a target with intense heat and force. Preus also does not share Superman's vulnerability to Kryptonite." DC Comics Superman You might then go one step further to create a unique Prius-like appelation: Pre-us Connect or Connection, Pre/us Pre*us Pre+us and so on...
G. McNeil's Green Garage (G.G.G. / 3G) Toybrid Service Center 2yoda hi-breed Diagnostic and Repairs Center
