Is one person creating multiple companies with similar names to competitors considered fraud?
<p>In Wisconsin, there's an individual, let's call him Dan, in a city who has basically created multiple "off-brand" companies with incredibly similar names to their competitors. </p>

<p>These are made up examples, but let's say the industry was computer repair (it isn't), locally there might be a few competitors:</p>

<p>TechChampions PC Repair <br/>
PC Fix It Fast  <br/>
Advanced Computer Professional Services<br/></p>

<p>Dan has domain names and paid keywords for:</p>

<p>TechChampionship PC Repair <br/>
PC Fix it Quick  <br/>
Advanced Computer Pro Services  <br/></p>

<p>None of his businesses have a physical storefront or office but Dan has these off-brand businesses listed as being in the same town/neighborhood of the respective competitor. If you look for a PC repair place in his area the first 7 to 10 results on Google are his copycat domain/businesses.</p>

<p>I can't speak to Dan's ability to do PC repair or his business model should one actually attempt to do business with him.</p>

<p>Is this practice fraud or otherwise illegal?</p>

<p>I don't think it's <a href="http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/943.20(1)(d)" rel="nofollow noreferrer">criminal fraud</a> unless something else is going on, like if he took money and didn't actually provide the goods or services.</p>

<p>However, this is almost certainly a federal trademark violation. </p>

<p><a href="http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/100.18(10r)" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Wisconsin statute 100.18(10r)</a> against fraudulent representations may also apply:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>It is deceptive and misleading for a person who is conducting business in a community or region from a location outside that community or region to use the name of the community or region, or other description of the community or region, in the corporate or trade name of the business or in any other information that is published if the use of the name or description of the location creates the misrepresentation that the business is located in the community or region. </p>
</blockquote>

<p>Under this statute, violators can be sued by individual plaintiffs and/or the state department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection.</p>

<p>However, you changed the industry, so also note that 100.18(12) provides that this law does not apply to insurance, and some of it does not apply to real estate brokers.</p>

fraud domain-name wisconsin