[E-trademarks] Christopher H Stevens

Tue Feb 11 15:55:26 UTC 2025

Hi All,

I hosted an event on trademark scams a few months back and looked into
these issues quite a lot back then (I believe you can access a recording of
that event if you register for it here -
https://www.altlegal.com/events/lloyd-mousilli-webinar-dont-get-tricked-unmasking-the-most-common-trademark-scams/
).

A few notes on some of the various emails I've seen the last day or two.

1. Yes, there was a non-IP attorney's name listed on over 2,500
applications filed at the USPTO. Ana Vinueza was one of the speakers at my
trademark scams event. You can read about Ana's story here.
https://news.bloomberglaw.com/ip-law/trademark-attorney-impersonation-scams-thrive-during-crackdown

Although the USPTO did remove her name from the applications, there have
been new ones filed under her name since then; she's had to continually
monitor the register to report new filings fraudulently listed under her
name.

Ana unfortunately has also had a number of ethics complaints filed against
her because of the scammers' use of her name and has been having to defend
herself against them. It's really quite bad.

2. While you do have to validate your identity to log in and access the
application system, there's absolutely nothing checking whether your log-in
identity is the same as the attorney name listed in the application as the
attorney. I know this for a fact because I regularly list my firm's
managing partner's name as the attorney on my trademark applications (for
continuity purposes) and I've never once been asked to verify his identity
or my right to list him as an attorney. There's also nothing checking
whether an attorney's bar number is accurate or not. So we really have a
"locked the front door but left the window wide open" situation here.

I also have worked with Ana to help identify several other non-IP attorneys
whose names were fraudulently listed on trademark applications; I've
reached out to a few of them to alert them to the situation. All the
attorneys I've found or spoken to whose names have been used in these scams
are female attorneys barred in California; I'm not sure if this is a
coincidence or not, but it is pretty alarming.

3. There is another type of trademark scam going around in which attorneys'
names and bios have been stolen and used on websites and harassing cease
and desist letters. This happened to another speaker at my trademark scam
event - Kayla Jimenez. You can read more about her story here -
https://www.worldtrademarkreview.com/article/lawyers-worst-nightmare-attorney-voices-horror-after-falling-victim-trademark-impersonation-scam

Tl;dr The scams are really really bad right now. If you're angry about
applications filed by or letters sent by a specific attorney, I'd highly
suggest checking if that person even practices trademark law or works for
the listed law firm before you file an ethics complaint or report them to
the USPTO. It's unfortunately quite likely that they don't know /anything/
about it.

Also if you aren't doing so already, I'd suggest regularly searching the
trademark register to make sure applications haven't been filed under your
name without your knowledge.

Rachael Dickson

On Tue, Feb 11, 2025 at 7:28 AM Kevin Grierson via E-trademarks <
e-trademarks at oppedahl-lists.com> wrote:

> This is the disconnect for me.  If we have to validate who we are in order
> to file, how are the scammers filing using names of attorneys that aren’t
> involved, or using fake names altogether?
>
>
>
> As for Mr. Stevens, if they aren’t filing under his name it seems that his
> identity hasn’t been “stolen,” at least as far as the PTO is
> concerned—scammers don’t have to verify attorney names for their ads and
> emails.
>
>
>
> *Kevin Grierson*********
>
> |
>
> Partner
>
> <https://www.cm.law/>
>
> [image: Mobile:]
>
>   757-726-7799
>
> [image: Fax:]
>
>   866-521-5663
>
> [image: Email:]
>
>   kgrierson at cm.law
>
> *Please note: Culhane Meadows is now CM Law
> <https://www.cm.law/cm-law-formerly-culhane-meadows-launches-second-decade-with-fresh-name-and-modern-brand/>*
>
>
>
> *From:* E-trademarks <e-trademarks-bounces at oppedahl-lists.com> *On Behalf
> Of *Gerry J. Elman via E-trademarks
> *Sent:* Monday, February 10, 2025 10:29 PM
> *To:* For trademark practitioners. This is not for laypersons to seek
> legal advice. <e-trademarks at oppedahl-lists.com>
> *Cc:* Gerry J. Elman <gerry at elman.com>
> *Subject:* Re: [E-trademarks] Christopher H Stevens
>
>
>
> EXTERNAL EMAIL
>
> But have you noticed that the trademark office already requires identity
> verification via Real ID?   Neither I nor my sponsored paralegal can log
> into the trademark filing/prosecution system without having been verified.
>
>
>
> -Gerry Elman
>
> Elman IP
>
> Denton, Texas
>
>
>
> Sent from my T-Mobile 5G Device
>
>
>
>
>
> -------- Original message --------
>
> From: Michael Brown via E-trademarks <e-trademarks at oppedahl-lists.com>
>
> Date: 2/10/25 7:45 PM (GMT-06:00)
>
> To: "For trademark practitioners. This is not for laypersons to seek legal
> advice." <e-trademarks at oppedahl-lists.com>
>
> Cc: Michael Brown <michaeljbrownlaw at gmail.com>
>
> Subject: Re: [E-trademarks] Christopher H Stevens
>
>
>
> But considering how they have geared TC to pro se filers, and specifically
> made it more time consuming for trademark attorneys, I doubt that the PTO
> would change course and require any certification.
>
>
>
> Michael Brown
> Michael J Brown Law Office
>
> 354 Eisenhower Parkway
>
> Plaza I, 2nd Floor, Suite 2025
>
> Livingston, NJ  07039
>
> michaeljbrownlaw at gmail.com
>
> michael at mjbrownlaw.com
>
> www.mjbrownlaw.com
> +1 973-577-6300  fax +1 973-577-6301
>
> Google Voice +1 973-637-0358
>
>
>
>
>
> On Mon, Feb 10, 2025 at 6:33 PM Rick Bigelow via E-trademarks <
> e-trademarks at oppedahl-lists.com> wrote:
>
> In my opinion, this is all heading towards all of us being required to be
> certified by the TM Office, much the same as patent attorneys have to be
> registered to practice before the Patent Office.  Only certified attorneys
> will be allowed to log into TM Center and  submit/prosecute applications on
> behalf of clients.
>
>
>
> On Mon, Feb 10, 2025 at 6:15 PM carla calcagno via E-trademarks <
> e-trademarks at oppedahl-lists.com> wrote:
>
> Thanks.  I will look into it.!
>
>
>
> On Mon, Feb 10, 2025 at 6:04 PM Bosland Law <office at bosland.law> wrote:
>
> Are they still using TMScams at uspto.gov?
>
>
>
>
>
> db
>
>
>
> On Mon, Feb 10, 2025 at 2:28 PM carla calcagno via E-trademarks <
> e-trademarks at oppedahl-lists.com> wrote:
>
> Thanks Susan. Assuming this is the case, does anyone know  who to contact
> at USPTO to report the group trademark.info who is misusing his name?
> Would you recommend the Solicitor's Office or Office of Enrollment and
> Discipline for example ?
>
>
>
> On Mon, Feb 10, 2025 at 5:15 PM Crane, Susan <susan.crane at wyndham.com>
> wrote:
>
> They are probably “borrowing” his name.  There is an attorney in
> California named Christopher H. Stevens, but he does not appear to be an IP
> attorney.
>
>
>
> *Susan L. Crane*
>
> *Group Vice President, Legal*
>
> *Intellectual Property, Brands & Marketing*
>
>
>
> Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc.
>
> 22 Sylvan Way
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/22+Sylvan+Way+%0D%0A+Parsippany,+NJ+07054?entry=gmail&source=g>
>
> Parsippany, NJ 07054
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>
> *O* (973) 753-6455
>
> *M* (973) 879-3420
>
> Susan.Crane at wyndham.com
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* E-trademarks <e-trademarks-bounces at oppedahl-lists.com> *On Behalf
> Of *carla calcagno via E-trademarks
> *Sent:* Monday, February 10, 2025 5:01 PM
> *To:* Oppedahl Carl <e-trademarks at oppedahl-lists.com>
> *Cc:* carla calcagno <cccalcagno at gmail.com>
> *Subject:* [E-trademarks] Christopher H Stevens
>
>
>
> One of my clients has been getting repeated letters allegedly from this
> person of "trademark-info" seeking to obtain trademark
> prosecution business. The client has asked him to stop contacting them, but
> he persists. I can't find
>
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> One of my clients has been getting repeated letters allegedly from this
> person of "trademark-info" seeking to obtain trademark
> prosecution business. The client has asked him to stop contacting them, but
> he persists. I can't find any trademark registrations under his name at the
> USPTO.
>
>
>
> Has anyone received letters from him before?
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