andye - 11:27 am on Sep 12, 2007 (gmt 0)

Someone has registered as a UK limited company using a very similar name and populated around 20 very spam looking websites with very similar text.

nature of the business is exactly the same

My client is seriously losing business

phone calls from irate customers

Client should:

- register a trademark if they haven't already

- make copies of all the evidence available

- send a 'cease and desist' letter to the other company

- if the amount of lost business and irate customers is great enough, get professional legal advice on claiming damages against the other party for 'passing off'.

If this case is as blatant as you're saying then your client is likely to win, so the other party would probably settle out of court. Check the other ltd company has sufficient assets to be worth sueing them for before going ahead, otherwise see if you can go after the directors instead.

Best wishes.