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<p>Why do you think the individual isn't the actual owner? Is there
any kind of documentation saying that there was a transfer of
ownership? <br>
</p>
<p>A use by a related company inures to the benefit of the owner
(Section 5); a "related company" is "any person whose use of a
mark is controlled by the owner of the mark with respect to the
nature and quality of the goods or services on or in connection
with which the mark is used." Section 45. You just need to prove
control. A written agreement is probably helpful evidence, but
it's only evidence. It's possible to have control without a
written agreement, and an agreement doesn't save the day either if
there isn't actual control.<br>
</p>
<p>Of course it's tricky as between the 100% owner of the company
and the company itself. On just a quick search of my blog I found
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://propertyintangible.com/2016/07/its-all-about-the-facts/">this
article</a> that might be a useful place to start reading, but
there are lots of cases with similar facts.</p>
<p>If there was a transfer of ownership, but the documents were
signed by the individual rather than the entity, the last document
signed was invalid -- but someone else on this list can give you a
citation that says it's not challengable because of Section 14
(incorrect signatory is not one of the grounds for cancellation),
but I forget the case. <br>
</p>
<p>Pam<br>
</p>
<div class="moz-signature">Pamela S. Chestek<br>
Chestek Legal<br>
PLEASE NOTE OUR NEW MAILING ADDRESS<br>
4641 Post St.<br>
Unit 4316<br>
El Dorado Hills, CA 95762<br>
+1 919-800-8033<br>
pamela@chesteklegal<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.chesteklegal.com">www.chesteklegal.com</a><br>
<br>
<br>
</div>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 6/30/2025 1:37 PM, Carl Oppedahl via
E-trademarks wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid:d115ef2e-1260-48f6-a3f9-ddac385d4b2b@oppedahl.com">
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p>[note
from editor -- this sort of stuff seems to happen over and
over again]</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p><br>
</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p>A
listserv member asks to post anonymously: <br>
</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p><br>
</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="mso-ligatures:none;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB"
lang="EN-US">An individual files for and obtains a US
trademark registration in 2000 for services.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="mso-ligatures:none;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB"
lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="mso-ligatures:none;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB"
lang="EN-US">An Inc. owned by the individual is formed in
2010 and starts using the mark in the registration for the
services in the registration.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="mso-ligatures:none;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB"
lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="mso-ligatures:none;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB"
lang="EN-US">All subsequent renewal filings are still done
in the name of the individual but the services are being
rendered by the Inc., not the individual.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="mso-ligatures:none;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB"
lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="mso-ligatures:none;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB"
lang="EN-US">There was never a written license agreement in
place between the individual and the Inc.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="mso-ligatures:none;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB"
lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="mso-ligatures:none;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB"
lang="EN-US">There is a potential dispute involving the
registration.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="mso-ligatures:none;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB"
lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="mso-ligatures:none;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB"
lang="EN-US">Can the validity of the registration be
attacked on grounds that the renewal filings were done in
the name of the individual and not the Inc. when no written
license agreement was in place?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="mso-ligatures:none;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB"
lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="mso-ligatures:none;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB"
lang="EN-US">If so, how can this be fixed?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="mso-ligatures:none;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB"
lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="mso-ligatures:none;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB"
lang="EN-US">A retroactive / <i>nunc pro tunc</i> license
agreement?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="mso-ligatures:none;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB"
lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="mso-ligatures:none;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB"
lang="EN-US">A retroactive / <i>nunc pro tunc </i>assignment?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="mso-ligatures:none;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB"
lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="mso-ligatures:none;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB"
lang="EN-US">Are there other problems that need to be fixed?</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<br>
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