Electric company sues Columbia over COMO Connect

An electric company based out of Tipton is suing the city of Columbia over the name and logo of the city’s bus system, “COMO Connect.”

In a federal lawsuit Co-Mo Comm, Inc. claims it started offering cable and internet services in 2011 under a unique brand called “CO-MO CONNECT.”

It serves people living in Morgan, Moniteau and Cooper counties.

In 2013 Columbia launched an initiative to re-brand its bus transit system using the same name.

The lawsuit alleges using the same name in overlapping markets has caused confusion for consumers and the general public. The company says customers within its service area frequently travel through Columbia.

Co-Mo Comm also says the city of Columbia has been “largely unresponsive” to the company’s attempts to address the issue and continues to infringe on the “CO-MO CONNECT” trademark.

The lawsuit seeks to keep Columbia from using the mark.