ok, so we've been brainstorming a few company names for some time now, want to finally make out team more official and professional BUT my god, it seems every name we think of, we can type it into google and see some idiotic wanna-be site with the same name, these sites are alll empty and all say "comming soon" so whats the deal with that, can we still use such a name or what? any advice?

is there a copyright on the site and is the site for games companies? if it isnt for games then you can technically use the name.

oh really? are you sure, does that apply for other things also, currently our game title is "SCION" but am also aware its a car company, wont that be a problem as they figure they lose reference because of that

what genre is your game, because if it is a racing game, then you can get fined.

i am 99% sure of it by the way. you can use it. if you want, tell me the names you wanted and i'll look into it for you or think one up for you.

oh and would you join my website, it has a great area in its forums where members can talk game making and other things.

You can be fined and/or legally hunted down in this manner ONLY if your product is in the same industry as another product, and you both have the same name. If you have the same name as another product, but you don't your product does not fall under the same industry, you are not breaking copyright and you are legally untouchable

For example:

A guy named Joe opens pizza shop, names it "Joe's Pizza Land"
A guy named Bill makes a game, names it "Joe's Pizza Land"

Bill cannot be sued or legally attacked by Joe because he is making a video game, not a pizza parlor.

Another example:

A guy named Jack makes a game and calls it "Mindless Adventures"
Later, another guy named Peter makes a game and calls it "Mindless Adventures"

Jack can sue Peter because Peter has made a game which has the same name as Jack's game.

More info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright

that is basically what i said but in fewer words

Great. I'm just reinforcing your point.

thats ok. thanks for the wikipedia link. that could be stickied in the game business area of the forum.

agreed

if it was there we could let everyone know about it not just play a game of Chinese whispers with it