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People can trademark the names of companies, cars, toys, cooking oil and just about anything else you can think of. And woe to the person who tries to use a name that’s already been claimed.
When it comes to people, though, there are no such protections.
The result can be fun if your name is Max Klinger, Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter or Don Draper. No one is really going to confuse you with the president of the United States or a fictional TV character.
What, though, if you’re an architect who designs commercial or retail properties and some guy with the same name decides to run for Congress in your backyard?
That’s the difficulty that Phil Troyer, an architect who had an office in LaOtto for 30 years until moving it to Ludwig Road in January, is facing.
There’s another Phil Troyer, this one a lawyer, whose name has been in the newspaper over the past couple of weeks after he announced he was running for Congress. That Troyer is running as a Republican against incumbent Mark Souder.
Since the announcement, architect Phil Troyer’s phone hasn’t been ringing off the hook, but, “at least I’ve gotten calls from people who know me,” he said.
So what kind of effect could something like this have on someone like Troyer the architect?
Well, it could be good. Troyer the architect is getting his name in the newspaper.
But it could have a negative effect, also.
“People I know or had business dealing with or ongoing dealings are asking, ‘Is that our Phil Troyer?’
“For everyone who calls, there are probably a dozen who wonder.”
Troyer sensed there was a bit of confusion out there, so he decided this would be the opportune time to clear the air and eliminate any mix-ups.
The real danger for Troyer the architect is that some people might think he has actually gone into politics. You can’t exactly work as an architect and run for Congress in the evenings, so that might cause some people to look elsewhere if they need an architect’s services.
“People who see that name might think, ‘Oh, he’s not an architect anymore.’ ”
So for the record, Phil Troyer the architect is still very much an architect and has no plans to do anything else.
“I don’t have any political aspirations,” he said.
Besides, Troyer said, it takes a certain type of person to become involved in politics – thick skin and the willingness to take lots of shots from other people.
He doesn’t describe himself as that type.
As far as the Troyer who is running for Congress, “I’ve never met him,” architect Troyer said.
“I don’t know if at some point he used to raise tropical fish,” Troyer said, explaining that he used to get the occasional call from people looking for a Phil Troyer, who could handle additions to their aquariums.
No, probably just another mix-up.
