[E-trademarks] Christopher H Stevens

Tue Feb 11 21:11:18 UTC 2025

Thank you Rachel for this wealth of information!'

Much obliged.

With kindest regards

Carla

On Tue, Feb 11, 2025 at 10:57 AM Rachael Dickson via E-trademarks <
e-trademarks at oppedahl-lists.com> wrote:

> 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
>> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/22+Sylvan+Way+%0D%0A+Parsippany,+NJ+07054?entry=gmail&source=g>
>>
>> *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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>>
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> Richard L. Bigelow
>> Registered Patent Attorney
>>
>> Certified Patent Valuation Analyst
>> 43 Nuangola Ave.
>> Mountaintop, PA  18707  USA
>>
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