[E-trademarks] [EXT] Trademark Scams

Tue Oct 22 22:53:01 UTC 2024

I do that every month.  
 Also I did turn an attorney in to the OED because we noted over 2000 applications filed by one attorney within 1 year period with the specimen appearing to be fraudulent.  I monitor the attorneys filing and it appears after an investigation the only listing of trademarks where older ones and then some recent ones.    It appears based on this recent discussion that perhaps that attorney's credentials were stolen.  I am glad I only reported it to the OED. 
Annette P. Heller
Trademark/Copyright Attorney
TM Law & Associates
400 Chesterfield Center Ste 400
Chesterfield [St Louis] MO 63017

www.TrademarkAtty.com

314-469-2610 Fax 314-469-4850In a message dated 10/22/2024 3:41:18 PM Central Daylight Time, e-trademarks at oppedahl-lists.com writes: 

I guess that is why us subscribers to the USPTO alerts received the attached email a few weeks ago. 

Alex Butterman

Partner                   

DUNLAP BENNETT & LUDWIG

211 Church St., SE; Leesburg, VA 20175

T: 703-777-7319 – BIO

This electronic message contains information from Dunlap Bennett & Ludwig PLLC and may be confidential or privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying, or use of the contents is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify us and delete the message without copying or disclosing it.

From: E-trademarks <e-trademarks-bounces at oppedahl-lists.com> On Behalf Of Rachael Dickson via E-trademarks
Sent: Tuesday, October 22, 2024 12:20 PM
To: Trademark Listserv <e-trademarks at oppedahl-lists.com>
Cc: Rachael Dickson <rachael at catalyticlaw.com>
Subject: [EXT] [E-trademarks] Trademark Scams

In regards to the discussion yesterday on fraudulent filings and attorney credential theft and misuse: Please be careful, y'all! 

I've been keeping a close eye on this for the past few months and I now personally know of four separate female attorneys barred in California who've had their credentials/identity stolen and used to file trademark applications or send cease and desist letters in related scams. Over 2,000 applications filed with stolen attorney credentials have already been found and removed from the US Trademark Register! 

So please definitely hold off on reporting attorneys with fishy applications for ethics violations and send those to the TMScams at uspto.gov so they can deal with it. The affected attorneys are already dealing with enough; the last thing they need is to have to fight off an ethics complaint based on someone else's misuse of their credentials as well. 

You can find out more here:  https://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/protect/recognizing-common-scams

I am also hosting a free webinar on several of the common scams targeting trademark applicants and attorneys on Tuesday, Oct. 29 along with my law firm Lloyd & Mousilli. Our speakers include two attorneys who've had their identity/credentials stolen and misused in these scams. If you're interested, you can sign up for that event over here: https://www.bigmarker.com/alt-legal/Don-t-Get-Tricked

Rachael Dickson

Catalytic Law; Lloyd & Mousilli

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Trademark Alert
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Attorneys: Check to see if your bar credentials were hijacked

Scammers are hijacking attorney identities and bar  credentials to use in trademark filings. This  scam is typically used to circumvent trademark rules requiring foreign-domiciled applicants to have a U.S.-licensed attorney. While this isn’t a new scam, we’re seeing it evolve. 

We strongly encourage attorneys to check the trademark register to ensure their bar  credentials  aren’t being used without their permission. While we have trademark rules prohibiting the false, fraudulent, or mistaken designation of an attorney and processes in place to help us identify wrongful appointments, you can help us find them faster. It’s easy to check. 

Check bar credentials 

In the trademark search bar enter AT: (("FIRST NAME LAST NAME"~2) OR ("LAST NAME, FIRST NAME"~2)) to see if your name is listed on any applications or registrations. By using this search string, you can catch instances where the scammer has reversed your name. Some scammers have used this tactic to try to evade detection.

If your credentials were hijacked

If your name appears where it shouldn’t, report it to TMScams at uspto.gov. Do not file a Change of Address or Representation form. Once  you contact  us, we’ll reach out to ask you some questions, and then we'll take steps as needed to correct the trademark public record.  If necessary,  we’ll suspend the USPTO.gov account that  submitted the hijacked bar credentials to conduct an administrative review.

Practicing attorneys should be on the lookout for these and similar scams that might put their credentials and clients at risk. In the meantime, we’ll continue updating our webpage for  recognizing common scams.  
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