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Name Changes Wreak Havoc Between Competing Travel Agents.

BOSTON, February 18, 2009 -- Boston's Vantage Travel Services Inc. filed a federal lawsuit today against a travel agent based in South Carolina for using a mark confusingly similar to its own.

Vantage Travel Services Inc.'s complaint says they incorporated on September 27, 1983 and have been offering various travel services under the brand VANTAGE until they adopted the mark VANTAGE DELUXE WORLD TRAVEL in June, 1995.

The named defendant is Vantage, Inc., a South Carolina based travel agency, which incorporated on January 14, 1982 according to records maintained by the South Carolina Secretary of State. The complaint alleges South Carolina's Vantage Inc. adopted the trademark VANTAGE WORLD TRAVEL in late 2006 or early 2007.

By claiming to use the mark VANTAGE DELUXE WORLD TRAVEL first in connection with travel services, Vantage Travel Services Inc.'s argues they have a superior claim of ownership and that Vantage, Inc.'s VANTAGE WORLD TRAVEL is a confusingly similar in violation of their rights.

Vantage Travel Services Inc. obtained a Massachusetts trademark registration on September 12, 1995 and filed an application for a federal trademark registration on July 1, 2008.

A permanent injunction and damages are being sought for trademark infringement, trademark dilution, false designation of origin, and unfair competition.