Trademark battle pits event planner vs. event planner

Similar names 'likely to continue to cause confusion,' federal lawsuit says

The following article appeared in the March 8, 2024, edition of The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with smart and original local news for Charlotte. We offer free and paid subscription plans. More info here.

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Does ‘TGC’ look like ‘TCG’? Charlotte corporate events planner files lawsuit over similar name

A well-known Charlotte events company is suing a North Carolina wedding-planning company, alleging that its use of a similar name violates trademarks and confuses customers.

Charlotte-based TCG Events, whose clients include some of Charlotte’s biggest and best-known companies, says in court documents that wedding and events firm The Gathering Co. is improperly calling itself “TGC” and uses the web domain name “TGCevents.com.” (To be clear: The Charlotte event planner is TCG Events, and it doesn’t like the other company’s use of “TGC Events,” which flips the “C” and the “G.”)

TCG Events is the successor company to Tribble Creative Group, founded by longtime well-known Charlotte events planner Mary Tribble. She sold the company in 2011. Its website says clients include Bank of America, Duke Energy, Novant Health, Wells Fargo, the Carolina Panthers, Microsoft and many other recognizable corporate Charlotte names.