Originally Posted by EnglishJW (Post 1077660)

Apparently "The Villages" have put legal pressure on some people who use the expression "The Villages" for business purposes. As many of you know, our Begonia in Gilchrist is up for sale. Since we felt the added cost of a commission would make our house prohibitively expensive, we have been trying to sell it ourselves. One of the many places we posted an add was with thevillagesFSBO. They have decided to change their name to avoid a costly legal battle. Does this also mean that anyplace that continues to have the expression "The Villages" in their title (like TOTV) is owned by The Villages? If not, why are some exempt from the pressure to cease and desist using "The Villages" terminology while others are not?

Originally Posted by EnglishJW (Post 1077660)

Apparently "The Villages" have put legal pressure on some people who use the expression "The Villages" for business purposes. As many of you know, our Begonia in Gilchrist is up for sale. Since we felt the added cost of a commission would make our house prohibitively expensive, we have been trying to sell it ourselves. One of the many places we posted an add was with thevillagesFSBO. They have decided to change their name to avoid a costly legal battle. Does this also mean that anyplace that continues to have the expression "The Villages" in their title (like TOTV) is owned by The Villages? If not, why are some exempt from the pressure to cease and desist using "The Villages" terminology while others are not?

Originally Posted by rubicon (Post 1077674)

Are you moving out of The Villages

Originally Posted by manaboutown (Post 1077681)

The developer holds various trademarks/service marks involving "The Villages".

TESS -- Error

TESS -- Error

Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS)

Plugging "The Villages" into the search engine will bring up several registered marks relating thereto. Even though two of the above links show "Error" they worked for me when I clicked them to check.


The owner of a mark must police it to retain it. A Primer on Policing Your Trademark | Copyright & Trademark Matters

Loss of Trademark Rights

Originally Posted by alanmcdonald (Post 1077694)

I went to TESS when a thread started up about Walgreen's no longer selling merchandise with THE VILLAGES on it last week.

Originally Posted by EnglishJW (Post 1077660)

Apparently "The Villages" have put legal pressure on some people who use the expression "The Villages" for business purposes. As many of you know, our Begonia in Gilchrist is up for sale. Since we felt the added cost of a commission would make our house prohibitively expensive, we have been trying to sell it ourselves. One of the many places we posted an add was with thevillagesFSBO. They have decided to change their name to avoid a costly legal battle. Does this also mean that anyplace that continues to have the expression "The Villages" in their title (like TOTV) is owned by The Villages? If not, why are some exempt from the pressure to cease and desist using "The Villages" terminology while others are not?

Originally Posted by Ooper (Post 1077737)

It is not just the words "The Villages", it is any title with just the word "Village", no "The" and it is singular...

Originally Posted by Polar Bear (Post 1077766)

I have my doubts about that.

Originally Posted by Ooper (Post 1077809)

Would you like to see my friends cease and desist order after using the word "Village" for over a decade at town square? I assure you that there is no doubt.

Originally Posted by Ooper (Post 1077809)

Would you like to see my friends cease and desist order after using the word "Village" for over a decade at town square? I assure you that there is no doubt.

Originally Posted by Ooper (Post 1077847)

I'm pretty confident that those affected have much smaller pockets than The Villages and if they want to stay in business in and around The Villages, they will comply. My point was agreeing with an earlier poster that some businesses seem to be allowed to continue and others do not, even if their title does not conform to the trademarked font and usage of the words "The Villages". It just doesn't seem right.

Originally Posted by dirtbanker (Post 1077710)

Thanks for sharing...did you find anything different than "Manaboutown" discovered?

Originally Posted by cinepuxon (Post 1077837)

If you check out the various marks you'll see that each has a specific use associated with it. Also note " The mark consists of the words The Villages in their unique stylized font." so if your use does not infringe on the registered use...and you do not use their font(s)... then go for it...

Originally Posted by rubicon (Post 1077674)

Are you moving out of The Villages

Originally Posted by dirtbanker (Post 1077880)

You, on your own, offered to show the cease and desist letter that your friend received. Somebody expressed an interest in seeing it, what happened to your offer? I have my doubts...



I believe it has little to do with pocket size, more like intellect and size of your gonads. Your friend can fight and possibly win, the loser could have to pay his costs to right this wrong...but I doubt it, and evidently so does your supposed friend.

The "some businesses" that you feel "seem to be allowed" to use the trademark might be getting the letter in the near future...

Tell your supposed friend that got the cease and desist letter to remove the word "The" from his business name (like AV guy did) and go on with life.

NOBODY SAID LIFE WAS GOING TO BE FAIR or "RIGHT"

Originally Posted by graciegirl (Post 1077661)

There is a whole 'nother thread on this topic started a couple of days ago. I will try to find it for you.

Here it is;

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...ight=trademark