[nubinetwork]

When it comes to registered trademarks, yes. I can't call myself Coke or Pepsi either.

Don't confront them to offer them anything, let them come to you.

[diogocp]

If your name is John Pepper and you happen to be a doctor, you can certainly call yourself Dr Pepper.

[supermatt]

You CAN call yourself Coke, Pepsi, or whatever you like. What you cant do is cause confusion with other uses of the mark.

Trademarks dont mean you own a word, they mean that the use of that word is to be protected from passing-off/impersonation (intentional or otherwise).

So by all means call yourself Coke - just dont market yourself as a soft-drink (or whatever other categories the mark is held and/or defended in).

[somehnguy]

No offense but I think that is terrible advice. Basically ‘bend over for any corporation immediately’.

If the person holds an asset and isn’t doing anything malicious with it there is zero reason they should be forced to give it up just because some corporation wants it.

[cr3ative]

They've clearly stated it's a name. You can't make a company, copyright a name, and then attempt to claim all rights to it. See gail.com, nissan.com above.