16 February 2026
You don’t need to copy a brand to lose a naming battle.
Sometimes, sharing one powerful word is enough.
That’s what happened when Williams Corporation tried to register AirHome — and Airbnb stepped in.
The two brands, side-by-side
Airbnb
- Global platform for short-term accommodation
- Massive brand recognition
- Portfolio of “Air-” derivative marks
- Strong association between AIR and accommodation in consumers’ minds
AirHome
- Name proposed for prefabricated homes and related services
- Not a booking platform
- Not visually copying Airbnb
- But operating close to accommodation and housing use cases
Different businesses.
Different models.
But close enough to raise eyebrows.
The key question wasn’t confusion — it was connection
The Trade Marks Office didn’t ask:
“Would someone think these are the same company?”
Instead, it asked:
“Would someone reasonably wonder if these brands are connected?”
That distinction matters.
The decision found:
- AIR was the most memorable element in both names
- Consumers could assume AirHome was affiliated with or endorsed by Airbnb
- The overlap didn’t need to be direct — proximity was enough
Even the fact that AirHome-related homes could be used as Airbnb accommodation fed into the problem.
The result
- AirHome was refused registration
- The brand was blocked before it could scale
- Costs were awarded against the applicant
No bad faith.
No copying.
Just a name that landed too close to an established brand gravity well.
The commercial lesson
This case is a textbook example of why:
- dominant brands “own” more than their exact name
- clearance searches must consider conceptual overlap, not just spelling
- brand risk often sits in the first word, not the full name
Once a name is rejected, the cost isn’t just legal — it’s redesign, delay, and lost momentum.
The IP Solved view
If a brand is famous enough, you don’t get to “share the vibe”.
Before you lock in a name, ask:
- Who already owns this mental space?
- What assumptions will customers make?
- Would an investor be nervous seeing this side-by-side?
That’s what proper clearance is for.
Launching or rebranding in 2026?
Talk to IP Solved before a name becomes a liability.
👉 Book a brand clearance or naming risk review with IP Solved.
