PORTLAND (AP) – The battle of the Bob’s has landed in federal court.

On one side is Lewiston-based Bob’s Discount Off-Price Superstores Inc., which has been selling everything from chain saws to furniture in Maine for about a decade.

On the other is Bob’s Discount Furniture Inc., a Connecticut company that has been selling furniture in the rest of New England for about the same length of time.

Now that the Connecticut Bob’s is on the verge of expanding into Maine by opening a store in Scarborough, the two retailers are at odds over trademark and prior-use issues.

“Our position is, Hey, we’ve been Bob’s Discount since the late ’80s, early ’90s, so you can’t use our name in Maine,”‘ said Shawn Bell, a Lewiston attorney who represents the Maine Bob’s.

“We’re just not going to let someone from out of state come in and take the good will that Bob has built up,” Bell said.

Maine Bob’s, founded by Bob Dinan, has outlets in Scarborough, Lewiston, Greene, Belfast, Brewer and Skowhegan.

When Maine Bob’s learned of the expansion, its lawyers sent a cease-and-desist letter to the Connecticut business. They also filed a suit in state court, seeking to keep the Bob’s Discount name for their Maine client.

Todd Holbrook, attorney for the Connecticut Bob’s, said he wasn’t aware of a state lawsuit. He filed a suit against the Maine Bob’s on behalf of his client in U.S. District Court in Portland at the end of April.

“Our client, Bob’s Discount Furniture, had a trademark on the term first,” said Holbrook.

He also noted that while Connecticut Bob’s has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in ads in New England, Maine Bob’s hasn’t done much in the way of advertising.

“I don’t think he has much, if any, protection for that name,” said Holbrook.

Despite the federal court filing, Holbrook said his client would be happy to just have the whole issue go away. Both companies could do business in Maine under their existing names, he said.

“We’ve said we’re willing to live and let live, but we’ve gotten nothing. Apparently they’re not (willing),” he said.

Bell responded Thursday saying Connecticut Bob’s decision to file a suit against his client would seem to contradict any live and let live’ sentiment.

“There’s no sense in letting them ride in on Bob’s good name in Maine,” Bell added.

The suit by the Connecticut Bob’s asks the federal judge to reserve for them the name “Bob’s Discount Furniture,” which was founded by Bob Kaufman.