[E-trademarks] TM Scam?

Tue Dec 3 18:50:32 UTC 2024

Kevin has a good point, might be a fraudulent filing.

Was the specimen filed legit?

On 12/3/2024 10:38 AM, Kevin Grierson wrote:
>
> Hard to see how this is in any way a gift to the client.  Unless the 
> client is mistaken and someone with authority at the client authorized 
> the filing, the filing was not made or signed by the client or an 
> authorized representative of the client, but was signed by someone 
> purporting to represent the client.  I don’t think that filing can be 
> authorized after the fact.
>
> *Kevin Grierson***********
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> *From:*E-trademarks <e-trademarks-bounces at oppedahl-lists.com> *On 
> Behalf Of *asarabia2 via E-trademarks
> *Sent:* Tuesday, December 3, 2024 1:20 PM
> *To:* e-trademarks at oppedahl-lists.com
> *Cc:* asarabia2 <asarabia2 at gmail.com>
> *Subject:* Re: [E-trademarks] TM Scam?
>
> EXTERNAL EMAIL
>
> I am not sure about the State Bar complaint until you know more and 
> until after the holiday season.  One mystery is why some random 
> attorney would  pay the renewal fee. That is a gift to your client. 
> You might check for other trademarks at the Patent and Trademark 
> Office for which the attorney represents the owner.
>
> 100% agree on the power of attorney filing.
>
> Regards,
>
> Tony
>
> IP Business Law, Inc.
> 320 via Pasqual
> Redondo Beach, CA 90277
> (310)377-5171
> www.calrestitution.com <http://www.calrestitution.com/>
>
> On 12/3/2024 10:02 AM, Eric Morton via E-trademarks wrote:
>
>     Is this attorney real?  I’d check the attorney’s bar number and
>     look up the attorney with the state bar.  A complaint with that
>     attorney’s state bar is in order.
>
>     *--*
>
>     *Eric D. Morton*
>
>     *Attorney*
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>     Clear Sky Logo-Transparent 6
>
>     *From:*E-trademarks <e-trademarks-bounces at oppedahl-lists.com>
>     <mailto:e-trademarks-bounces at oppedahl-lists.com> *On Behalf Of
>     *Tim Ackermann via E-trademarks
>     *Sent:* Tuesday, December 03, 2024 9:03 AM
>     *To:* For trademark practitioners. This is not for laypersons to
>     seek legal advice. <e-trademarks at oppedahl-lists.com>
>     <mailto:e-trademarks at oppedahl-lists.com>
>     *Cc:* Tim Ackermann <tim at ackermannlaw.com>
>     <mailto:tim at ackermannlaw.com>
>     *Subject:* Re: [E-trademarks] TM Scam?
>
>     Mark,
>
>      I'd consider filing a power of attorney ASAP. This is probably
>     not the case -- I don't want to assume attorney malfeasance -- but
>     it's not impossible.
>
>      What I'd be worried about is some kind of Amazon /
>     brand-ownership hijacking. Assuming you didn't have a filed power
>     of attorney, the USPTO stopped recognizing you as the attorney
>     upon registration (or completion of earlier maintenance filing)
>     under 37 C.F.R. §2.17(g). Then, once this new attorney files the
>     renewal, the new attorney is recognized under 37 C.F.R.
>     §2.17(b)(1), right? And that attorney will get any kind of emails
>     from Amazon, or Walmart, or whoever now uses that method of
>     verifying brand ownership, under 37 C.F.R. §2.18.
>
>      I just don't see another point for paying the client's USPTO fees
>     when you are not going to be reimbursed. And the "we're on
>     vacation and not responding" might just be a dodge.
>
>      Sincerely,
>
>     Tim Ackermann
>
>     The Ackermann Law Firm
>
>     E: tim at ackermannlaw.com
>     P:  817.305.0690
>     F:  214.453.0810
>     W: ackermannlaw.com <http://ackermannlaw.com/>
>     O: 1701 W. Northwest Hwy. Ste. 100
>          Grapevine TX 76051
>
>     On Tue, Dec 3, 2024 at 10:41 AM Mark Kaufman via E-trademarks
>     <e-trademarks at oppedahl-lists.com> wrote:
>
>         Oh great and powerful Brain Trust:
>
>         We wrote to a client to renew a registration (due in a year,
>         but inspired by the upcoming increase in PTO fees).  Client
>         said they’d send payment.  Before we renewed, another U.S.
>         attorney had filed and paid the fee for renewal. 
>         Disappointed, I wrote to the client.  Client said that they
>         didn’t know who the new attorney was, and that client had
>         mailed me a check to do the work.   An email to the new
>         attorney semi-bounces back with the following message:
>
>         XYZ Law Firm will be away on vacation for the 2024-2025
>         holiday season. Afterward [the firm] will begin the winding up
>         process. If you have any questions this email will be
>         monitored sparingly but questions will be addressed in time.
>         [The Firm’s] Intellectual Property web services have been
>         faulty since 9/4/2024. If assistance is needed concerning a
>         prior response please call.
>
>         I’m not sure if the “2024-2025 holiday season” means the
>         entire month of December.  A phone call to new attorney’s cell
>         phone doesn’t answer, and “mailbox is full.”  I’ve sent a text
>         message, but am not optimistic about getting a response.
>
>         So:  I guess I’ll send the foregoing to TMscam at uspto.gov and,
>         if anyone thinks it’s advisable, to the Post Registration
>         Department.  But the curious thing about this hijacking is
>         that the new, unauthorized “law firm”, in the process of
>         taking over the registration, paid the filing fee.  Maybe they
>         intend to assign the registration to some other scammer…
>
>         I welcome your thoughts and suggestions.
>
>         Thanks,
>
>         Mark
>
>         Mark S. Kaufman
>
>         Kaufman & Kahn, LLP
>
>         Email: kaufman at kaufmankahn.com <mailto:kaufman at kaufmankahn.com>
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