Nonprofit in Prestigious Atlanta Community Seeks to Protect Exclusive Name

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the Buckhead Coalition, a nonprofit that promotes the interests of the upscale Buckhead region of Atlanta, is demanding that businesses that use “Buckhead” in their name but are not located in the 28-square-mile area drop the term.  The coalition’s president, Sam Massell (formerly a mayor of Atlanta) says that 51 businesses have been identified through the AT&T “Real White Pages” Greater Atlanta Business directory for using the Buckhead name but operating beyond the community’s boundaries.  The nonprofit reportedly intends to mail letters Friday to owners of these companies and attempt to enforce the demand.  The organization is relying on a recent amendment to the Fair Business Practices Act of 1975, which prohibits use of a business name if it misrepresents the geographic origin or location of the business. 

JRB