Hey fellow music heads,

Just a quick survey-esque question:

Would anyone here confuse "NYC VIBE" with "VIBE MAGAZINE"? I'm in the process of attempting to register the "NYC VIBE" trademark but Vibe Media Group is of the opinion that since I'm a DJ and would be using the "NYC VIBE" mark (which shares the abbreviated form of the word VIBRATION: "VIBE" with their mark) to promote and/or perform as a collective of DJs, Musicians, etc that would cause confusion in the public's eye.

I'm trying to prove to them that just because we may share the word "VIBE" in the mark doesn't necessarily mean most people will confuse the two marks. The example I use prominently is Pontiac Vibe (the car).

Others that may share one word but don't necessarily cause confusion are Home DEPOT and Office DEPOT , Commerce BANK and BANK of America, GENERAL Electric and GENERAL Motors, etc, etc.

Would very much appreciate your unbiased thoughts. I also wanted to ask people that know who/what Vibe Magazine is...

Thanks guys and gals!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: EricVISA,

Hey Eric
I think you make a very logical and rational explanation in your response letter i.e. Answer. Personally I wouldn't confuse NYC VIBE with VIBE MAGAZINE.

The focus of "their" name is to the beginning i.e. VIBE records, VIBE Confidential etc. The emphasis is at the start.
Your use of Vibe is at the end.

I hope it all works out for you. If not, how about NYC VYBE? It sounds the same but reads differently. Just spell it aloud and see how it sounds to yourself. I don't see a registered / pending trademark for it....

Yeah, I thought of NYC VYBE. But it don't look legit to me. Anyway, we'll see.

Thank you though for your input.

EV

...but you also have to remember, we're not idiots (well, most of us aren't, I can't speak for everyone).

"Vibe Magazine" has a pretty solid name reputation, it's hard to say...