I've been planning on starting my own data consulting business for some time. My current contract ends June 15, so a few months ago I set June 16 as the "go live" date. I tossed around a few names, bounced these off friends and family, and decided on "Mixed Metrics." Before registering, I did a couple quick searches and determined that this name did not seem to be in use. So on May 24, I registered Mixed Metrics, LLC as a business. Then I went to register the domain name and discovered that it had been created on May 23 by Media Plow, LLC, and was for sale for $2,995.

Clearly, either 1) We both discovered this name independently and registered it within 24 hours of each other. 2) They sniffed out the fact I was considering this name, saw that I hadn't registered it, and scooped it. 3) I saw their name, decided I really REALLY needed to have it, despite the fact that they had already registered it, and decided to proceed based on the fiction that I had been considering this name.

Now I haven't been operating, in fact, I didn't plan to have the website up until June 16, so for all you know, or anyone other than my friends and family knows, the third situation above is a possibility.

Now I have two options A) Start from scratch with another name. B) Use mixedmetrics.consulting (which I now own) and continue to operate as Mixed Metrics, LLC as I had planned, and hope this doesn't lead to trouble later on. C) Pay them $2,995.

Any advice? If I proceed with B) will I be getting calls from a $75/hour lawyer threatening to sue me in East BFE over some sort of trademark infringement?