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Depending on which name it is, you may simply be able to use the name, without any association with Pokémon. Don't ever reveal you got it from a list of Pokémon names. If asked, insist that you just made it up and that it is a coincidence.

The explicit association between your product an Pokémon may be worse than the actual name clash itself.

For instance, suppose I manufacture mini submarines and I name one of them Seaking. Well, guess what, that is a Pokémon character name. It's plausible that this is a complete coincidence and I can get away with that claim even if I did in fact get that from the Pokémon name. If I broadcast the Pokémon association, then that could get the attention of someone at Nintendo; they could come to the conclusion that I'm trying to use their business to promote mine somehow.

Just consider the name carefully and how plausible it is that you came up with it independently, considering factors like: how weird is the name? Are you known to others to be a big Pokémon fan? Have you blogged or tweeted anything about Pokémon, and especially that Pokémon?




Kudos for the excellent example. "Sea King" would be a quite believable coincidence.




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