Legal Question in Business Law in Wisconsin

Re: Copyright problem with acronym

Not a problem of copyright, but rather of trademark. Therefore, the first stage inquiry is whether customer confusion would likely result from the use of the name. A relevant consideration is whether you sought to trade on the fame or connotations of the existing mark (such as JAWS Can Openers). Another possible issue arises out of either state law anti-dilution statutes or the provisions of the federal Lanham Act relating to famous marks.

Pre-clearing your trademark is a very important step in a start-up business -- you don't want to build a business around a trademark that you then have to abandon using. Consult a competent trademark attorney for particular advice on your situation.