Can I mention a company’s name in a press release without their permission?
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Can I mention a company’s name in a press release without their permission?
I have software the helps consumers search individual websites. I would like to give an example and say something like, xxxx helps you search Google, Bing, and Yelp. The names are trademarked, but it’s very difficult to describe my product without doing so.
Asked on July 19, 2011 Texas
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
To be on the safe side, it would be best to obtain written permission from representatives of another company before using that company's name in a press release to benefit the software program you are marketing. Potentially the unauthorized use of another company's name could subject you to a lawsuit for the improper use of its name for profit through your marketing efforts.
Poetentially your market pitch can be broadly worded to state somehting like it helps you with well known search engines presently on the market without naming any particular company that has the search engine.
I'd shy away with specifc names in your software company's press release of other companies for now unless you have written permisison from these other companies to use their names in the release.
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