The conflict between a Key Largo group that wants to hold a Conch Republic Days event in April and the Key West man who says the "Conch Republic" name is his intellectual property has escalated.

Key Largo businessman Robert DiGeorgio unveiled the Upper Keys Business Group's Web site, ConchRepublicMilitary.com, just days before he and members of his group are to meet the self-proclaimed secretary general of the Conch Republic, Peter Anderson, in circuit Judge Luis Garcia's courtroom on Wednesday. They are suing for the right to use the words "Conch Republic."

The Web site features an Uncle Sam caricature pointing, with the words, "The Northernmost Territories of the Conch Republic needs you," and "Help us in unifying the Upper Keys."

The Northernmost army's Web site advertises a 10-day Conch Republic Days celebration that coincides with the Key West event.

Since 1990, Key West resident Anderson has earned his living capitalizing on the "Conch Republic" name, coined as the result of a Florida City blockade after the Mariel Boatlift in 1982. Anderson said he will "go to the wall" to defend his exclusive use of the name.

DiGeorgio said Anderson wants too big a slice of the pie in exchange for using the name.

"We agree that this is his intellectual property, in Key West," DiGeorgio said. "We wish him the best in Key West, but this is 100 miles up the road in Key Largo. He wants 50 cents out of every dollar we make. That gives us no choice. We either walk away or take on the fight."

Anderson last month said he wants 50 percent of the net earnings after the event starts to turn a profit.

Calls to Anderson for comment on the Upper Keys group's Web site were not returned before press time.

"If he wins this case, there will be no Upper Keys Conch Republic celebration," DiGeorgio said.

sgibbs@keysnews.com