SEO Columbus Fiasco
I am a Columbus SEO. I have lived in Ohio my entire life and as of July 2010, I became a resident of the beautiful city of Columbus. So, when I moved down here I changed the focus on my site to account for that. Last week, I started receiving emails from a shell company (a dba) of Kalor Technology. Below are a copy of the emails I have received from Joe Rozsa, the owner of the business “SEO Columbus.” Let it be known that I never replied to ANY of the ridiculous emails.
Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with any SEO Agency or other SEO company, including “SEO Columbus”. I am a consultant who tends to work alone.
Wed, Feb 2, 2011 at 9:12 PM
From: Joe Rozsa < joe. rozsa@seocolumbus.com>
Subject: Email from MichaelHalvorsen.comMessage Body:
Hello Mike,I always appreciate seeing other people in this field, especially locally, and would love to see them all and the industry succeed and grow, but I do have one request from you. I’ve had a couple of people calling me asking about you, seemingly confused because you refer to your company name in a few places as “Columbus SEO” (Mine is “SEO Columbus”, of course, hence the confusion). I realize and appreciate the fact that you are trying to use the keyword friendly name as a business reference from yourself, but it is causing quite a bit of confusion as that is not actually your company name, and is arguably a bit spammy – hence some of the damage to my own business.
I just wanted to let you know about this confusion, so that hopefully you will come up with some other keyword combination to use that is not using the exact words in my trademarked company name.
Again, I don’t want to come across too aggressive or to turn negative as I really do wish you personally all the best, but at the same time I do protect my company name by all means possible, and I always prevent confusion and damage to my business name from something that I can’t control (like someone else using my company name).
You’re definitely not the first person that’s tried to capitalize on my business (intentional or not, it does have that effect). So I wanted to first ask you in a very friendly manner that you please remove any and all references to your own consulting services as “Columbus SEO”.
Thanks , and I appreciate your immediate attention to this.
Joe Rozsa
President
SEO Columbus
On Friday, February 4, the guy must have been jumping out of his skin freaking out about my stellar rankings because he called me and left me a voicemail. Apparently I had “a post that you, you know we came up on my trademark infringement software that I use.” What? What is “trademark infringement software”? I’m 24 years old. I understand how business names work, I have a good understanding how trademarks, registered trademarks, and patents work. I’m not some amateur kid who is new to business. I went to college for business and have been working for myself on the Internet since 1998 when I was a mere 12 years old. Either way, the guy tried strong arming me into removing mention of his business name.
I ended up calling the guy back for some reason. During the two minute conversation, I told asked Mr. Joe Rozsa what he thought about the other Columbus SEO businesses using his “trademarked” SEO Columbus name and he said he had spoken to several of them and they were working to remedy the problem. The emails continued:
Fri, Feb 4, 2011 at 12:05 PM
From: Joe Rozsa <joe .rozsa @ seocolumbus .com>
Subject: Email from MichaelHalvorsen.comMessage Body:
Mike, I wanted to clear up one point of potential confusion for you, which may save you a lot of time and money instead of dealing with attorneys and litigation.If you would like to use the keywords “Columbus SEO” on your page, title tags, and any place else you want them… by all means please do. I think that is what you were referring to when you mentioned the other sites out there. Those others such as AgentSEO use Columbus SEO, and I have no problem with that. MarketingAdept is in the process of correcting this matter on their site as well.
However, you can NOT use “SEO Columbus” in your navigation bar, or in that order anywhere on your site, including a blog article that makes you appear to customers that you are us, or somehow affiliated with us. You also can’t refer to your “company” as “Columbus SEO” because well, that isn’t your company name, and because it is again capitalizing on my company name.
I know all about keywords and SEO as you know. Heck, you’ve probably seen me speak at a conference somewhere. But I also know, and suspect that you do as well, about intellectual propertly and protecting one’s own assets. Seriously, you don’t want to get into something like that.
By all means use and target the keywords Columbus SEO, Akron SEO, Texas SEO… I really don’t care. I hope you do rank well. I really don’t care. Heck, I’m too busy to be accepting new clients anyway. Maybe I could refer some of my overflow to you if I knew you were really good at SEO.
But do not use my company name in an effort to confuse customers into thinking that you are somehow associated with me. THAT is all I am working to protect, which is a right that I have and will use.
After speaking to him, I decided I really didn’t care about ranking for “SEO Columbus” and decided to take the page down and 301 it to another “Columbus SEO” page on my site.
Then I received YET another email from the guy. This one made me put everything back up again:
Fri, Feb 4, 2011 at 12:32 PM
From: Joe Rozsa <joe.rozsa@seocolumbus.com>
Subject: Email from MichaelHalvorsen.comMessage Body:
Thanks Mike, I appreciate the cooperation on this.As you may or may not know, I am legally required to pursue all known violations of my company name according to trademark law. Not doing so could be considered “abandoning” the trademark.
Hopefully, there are no hard feelings because of this. I really like to get along with others in this field, especially locally, and am always looking at working with other good SEO folks either by hiring them as employees or contractors, or perhaps inviting them to speak at our events.
I really wasn’t trying to be a jerk about any of this stuff. Like I said, I am legally obligated to send out those notices. Sometimes people accept in a friendly manner, other times not so much. Nobody is ever thrilled about it. But I really do appreciate your cooperation.
Best regards,
Joe Rozsa
Mr. Rozsa must have realized I put things back up and decided to send another email.
Sun, Feb 6, 2011 at 11:36 PM
From: Joe Rozsa <joe.rozsa@SEOColumbus.com>
Subject: Email from MichaelHalvorsen.comMessage Body:
Come on, Mike… you put my company name back up on your site? Can’t you just change your top nav to something else, like “Columbus SEO” or “SEO in Columbus Ohio” or something that isn’t MY EXACT COMPANY’S NAME?Seriously man, I’m trying so hard to be nice here and offer you something to go on that won’t get you in a lot of trouble. You also should know that since I am legally required to pursue this matter (literally), according to copyright law, this really isn’t going to just go away as some minor thing. I know you were claiming to “know how SEO works” and stuff, but seriously man… I’ve gone through this before with other people who had this same idea you do, and my attorneys have dealt with this before in defense of my company name. There are lots of legal precedents out there, so if you really want to be stubborn about it, I urge you to make the change first and then consult your attorney or at least look up some actual legal cases other than the heresay you talk about.
Again, I’ve been trying to be helpful here and be nice to you, but you need to realize that as soon as I spend a nickel for my attorneys to pursue this, that’s it. Surely you know deep down inside of you that you can’t legally use my company name like you are right now. And it will be pretty easy to prove “initial interest confusion” (if you aren’t familiar with that term, again, I urge you to look it up and consult an attorney) and I could very easily obtain financial damages for that if I pursue it.
I’m trying every way possible to get you out of this without it costing you tons of time and money, over a worthless keyword (trust me on that one, “SEO Columbus” brings in very little traffic) that you won’t ever outrank me for anyway (again, not something personal… but it’s my domain name, in a pretty well optimized site – I’m pretty much set in the top spot for that one). I’m just saying… please take the friendly advice and stop using my company name on your site. You ARE violating my trademark and I really can (and absolutely will) pursue this and very, very easily obtain a judgment on this one. I take this stuff seriously, and that is why I’m trying to help you out with some advice before I have to do what I am legally required to do and pursue the matter. Just some minor changes is all I’m asking for. As long as you aren’t using my company’s name, I don’t care what text you use. But you can’t use “SEO Columbus”.
Am I insane?
Update 2/7/2011:
I want to point something out that I found on Friday: according to the State of Ohio, “SEO Columbus” is not registered as a business. The check that was used to register with the state bounced: goo.gl/k5yi2 (PDF link on State of Ohio website). When I spoke with him on the phone, he said he intended for that to happen. The state had to cancel it because they never heard back from him.
He bought the exact match domain and ranks because of that. I think he’s confused about his own business name because it’s definitely confusing the heck out of me.
And FYI, as of 2/7/2011, there is no registered trademark with the US Postal Service.
Update 2/7/2011 @ 830 PM EST:
Yet ANOTHER email from him. This time he’s playing a baby and trying to make himself out to be a good guy. I guess he didn’t realize I’d post this email too. There is commentary after the email.
Mon, Feb 7, 2011 at 8:11 PM
From: Joe Rozsa <joe.rozsa@seocolumbus.com>
Subject: Email from MichaelHalvorsen.comMessage Body:
If you can honestly tell me that this was about the keywords SEO Columbus, and all 9 or 10 of its unique visits per month, and NOT about piggybacking on my company name, then I would like to offer you my sincerest apologies for asking you to stop using my company name. Heck, I’ll even offer you a text link and apology on my homepage.You see… I’m not a Columbus SEO. I’m not accepting clients. I don’t want clients. I have a company. That’s it. A company with a name I wanted to protect based on information I was given by my attorneys a few years ago. A company with a name known with well regards before your smear campaign today.
You really should think about people and their families, and their livelihoods. I really don’t care about the smear stuff on SEO Columbus, because like I said, I don’t take clients anyway. Call my company phone number, the message is “we don’t take clients”. You aren’t hurting me. You ARE hurting my little girls and my family and who knows who else when people say false things about their dad on sites which then appear on Google. All because you claim to really want some stupid keywords that generates 10 freaking visits a month, and maybe phone call or two that I don’t even return.
The smears on SEO Columbus are one thing, the smears on my name are something altogether. Pretty scummy and uncalled for, dude.
You can have the keywords. You can have a text link with me proclaiming you are the greatest SEO in Columbus. You can have the freaking domain name. I don’t care. I just wish you also had some maturity and class on how to handle matters one on one with people.
But if you really just wanted those keywords, then I am sorry. They are all yours. Not a peep from me. Sorry to have bothered you with my request.
Thanks for taking something so, so unimportant to you and really ruining someone else’s business with it.
Have fun with those 10 uniques per month. Hope it was worth it to you.
I’m not sure I’d want the domain. I’m just tired of all the bullshit that happens in this industry. It’s hard to put a face to WHO pulls the crap. This time it came from someone’s business email address. There’s the name. There is the face. I was going after the damn KEYWORDS. You claim to be an SEO. Do you know how to target keywords? Do you see me attempting to “piggyback” off any of the OTHER respectable Columbus SEO companies? Do you see a page for Lightbulb Interactive or Sixth City Marketing? Did you send any of those respectable Columbus SEO companies an email demanding they take down every mention of your “company” name that YOU DO NOT HAVE REGISTERED because a check bounced?
What attorney did you get that information from? Did you, as an SEO, do a Google search to find a “Columbus Attorney?” Did you pick the first Google result because Google had them ranked #1? I know basic copyright, trademark, and patent law. I learned it back when I was 12 years old, back when I started my first Internet business. I’m pretty sure there isn’t a single Columbus Attorney who would give you that advice. I thought you went after other people and had successful judgements?
Columbus, Ohio has 717,000 residents as of the 2000 Census. You mean to tell me that your site has had only 9 visits since December with “seo columbus” as a referring keyword with the #1 spot? Did you happen to think that the average Google reader could see what you were trying to pull without even needing a single click?
I’m not accepting your apology. I don’t want it. You’re a liar who thought they could take advantage of me because I’m a single person (not a company) who can rank #3 for the phrase that DOES drive traffic, outranking your actual REAL business website: Columbus SEO
I'm #3. Your REAL business, Kaylor Technology is #4.
In the minute and a half conversation I had with you, I told you wasn’t an idiot. The saying is true:
You can’t bullshit someone with a mustache:
Mike Halvorsen - The Columbus SEO
Photo credit: Top Brass Photography
P.S. – I love everyone who commented. You guys make me enjoy the industry. Thanks for having my back.
Related Stories By Other Top Notch SEO’s
- Joe Rozsa – SEO Columbus or Columbus SEO or Whatever – by Aaron Chronister
- SEO Columbus – by Darren Slatten
- Joe Rozsa – Not a Columbus SEO – Use Mike Halvorsen instead – by Brian LaFrance
- SEO Columbus Sucks – Joe Rozsa Needs Reputation Management Help
COMMENTS WERE CLOSED February 11, 2011.
{ 171 comments }
If he was serious about it then he would have sent you a “cease and desist”. But let’s be honest, I don’t think you are really playing nice with your neighbor, right or wrong.
I’ve had this same run in on several occasions. You really can’t trademark a location. If he decides to push it to a court case he is more than likely going to loose. Being able to trademark a location would give the holder too strong of a trademark. Can you imagine if no other pest control company were allowed to advertise with the word Phoenix simply because someone has the name Phoenix Pest Control? Ridiculous.
The same applies to a legal name. If my name is Thomas, then I have a legal right to advertise as Thomas Pest Control. If my last name were Orkin then I could run a company by the name of Orkin Exterminating.
The morale of the story, if you are going to try and trademark something make sure the trademark is enforceable.
Bulwark, not a location nor a name. Get my drift…
Having said that, these companies can put a thorn in your side whether they are right or wrong. And ultimately you could both throw a lot of cash away on lawyers.
Its really funny that my name got mentioned?!? It doesn’t look like he understands how search engines work. And the arrogance to talk down to you like you have no shot at getting business unless he refers it to you.
The best thing he ever did was buy an exact-match domain name.
I mean really, what ever happened to content that is reader-friendly. I counted the words “Columbus SEO” or “SEO Columbus” on his homepage more than 10 times.
I also find it laughable that at the time this post was written, his homepage title reads “Columbus SEO” first and not the “SEO Columbus” that he’s having a fit about. It would be one thing if you were using PPC or something to bid on his business name, but this is a whole other thing. Your site is incredibly relevant for Columbus and SEO, and you don’t control where and how search engines rank you – you just control how relevant you are.
Now I don’t want to throw sticks or stones, but this is just bad form! Keep fighting the good fight Mike!
Haha Jason. When I spoke to him on the phone, I mentioned your name and asked him why you’re allowed to rank for it. He said he was “working with you to remedy the situation.” No joke.
I’ve had no discussions with him as we both know we’re not doing anything unethical. I’m in Columbus and I do SEO, therefore I’m pretty relevant for that keyword. Not trying to rob customers from anyone, as I’m not even really allowed to take on side projects anyway at my current job.
What does this asshat expect, that Google will return one single result (his site) for the query ‘SEO Columbus’?
Um, yea. Or maybe just hoping that this kid would create a ton of inbound links for me.
This has got to the lowest form of scum I’ve ever seen. Emailing people asking them to stop using a keyword on their site, just pathetic.
If you try to pass yourself or your company off as the business “SEO Columbus”, then he might have a case. What they’re trying to do, however, is to take a general industry term and state that no one else can use it because it’s their company name. That’s the same as me calling my company “Columbus Lawyer” then contacting every Columbus lawyer and telling them they can’t refer to themselves as a Columbus Lawyer and can’t mention it on their site. That’s just ridiculous.
Trademark and company name infringement are not for generally accepted industry terms and general terms being used as terms on a site and not referring to a company. If that weren’t the case, you could just create a company named “Central Ohio Search Engine Optimization” and demand they remove any mention of that from their site.
Furthermore, if you search for “SEO Columbus” in the Ohio Business Entity Name search www2.sos.state.oh.us/pls/bsqry/f?p=100:1:4006501207134196 , you see that the company SEO Columbus, LLC was filed in 2007 but the current status is cancelled. So, it looks as though his business name isn’t SEO Columbus…
Yeah Jared, if you look at that document, the check he used to file bounced!
Thanks Jared, that is exactly the case.
Like here in 2008… www.sbnonline.com/Local/Article/15661/70/0/3_Questions.aspx
Or here in 2007… www.searchenginestrategies.com/archives/2007/chicago/jrozsa.html
Would you consider that as my “trying to pass yourself or your company off as the business “SEO Columbus”? Me thinks so.
Thanks again for your support as a voice of reason.
hrm.. I don’t know how ohio works.. but here in washington it’s illegal to conduct business without a business license… Seems like there is something there that might be worth mentioning ;-)
I find it highly unlikely that anyone would confuse you for that company. You have your name printed in bold at the top of your site, along with a cartoon portrait of yourself. Surely, anyone who was looking for his company would recognize the difference. I see nothing to indicate that you are attempting to impersonate or deceive potential customers.
Furthermore, if this guy is swarming with clients, and ranks at the top for his company name, it’s shows a lack of character to spend so much time trying to use threats of litigation to monopolize two commonly used terms–one of them being a location. These two terms, in that very order, apply to countless others in the Columbus area, which explains why he seems to be constantly at arms with so many local people in the industry.
Perhaps if he was so worried about distinguishing himself from other businesses, he would have chosen a truly unique name that didn’t include the industry name he was trying to monopolize. It’s like naming a web development company “Internet Web Development, Inc.” and then trying to bludgeon everyone you can find via search engine results.
At least you operate under your own name, rather than trying to hustle your way into the top ranks by the most generic name conceivable.
Well seems he wrote an entire article detailing his misunderstanding of trademark vs. a business name for you: seocolumbus.com/search-engine-optimization/note-on-trademark-infringement/ – I additionally find it disturbing that someone who would author this type of drivel is a speaker at SMX and have alerted SMX to my opinion re that.
It seems that he has already removed that RSS…
It looks like he took down that post, it is going to a 404.. you would think he would at least 301 it… I mean he was a conference speaker and all…
He took down the ‘trademark vs. a business name’ article. Something tells me he’s running around like a chicken with it’s head cut off not knowing what to do.
Nothing like regret!
Scratch that: Alan to the Rescue.