Can I be sued for starting a brand with an existing name or using Mona Lisa images?

[c0ldezra]

first question is can they sue me if I make and start a clothing brand out of name of some other clothing brand.

I was planning to use name "Merci" but there is chocolate brand "Merci", 

second question is can I get sued for using mona lisa pictures on shirt printing or meme mona lisa pictures, 

thank you guys for any feedback.

[PaulNewton]

Legal questions are ALWAYS a question you need to ask a lawyer for a real answer, and NEVER random people on the internet for opinions.

Protect yourself and your business invest in real actual legal advice.

Non legal opinion,  this would be more like trademark law and as your in a separate industry from them (fashion vs food) should be fine. But you should do trademark research when trying to use a common word as a brand name.

[Victor]

Hi @c0ldezra,

As @PaulNewton has suggested, if you have questions about potential legal issues when running your store you should consult with a lawyer or legal professional. Shopify staff are not able to provide legal advice to merchants.

You can find general advice online if you seek it out but ultimately we would always recommend speaking with a qualified professional if you have questions.