[E-trademarks] Proving that a corp. converted from an LLC owns trademarks registered by the LLC

Wed Feb 19 22:13:07 UTC 2025

To be clear, she didn’t say they won’t accept a name change. Of course they will, if you file it as a change of name. She just said that if you file the assignment as an entity conversion, but there also clearly has been a name change, they won’t take it, because it’s not just an entity conversion. But I’m just going to try it anyway.

Jessica R. Friedman
Attorney at Law
300 East 59 Street, Ste. 2406
New York, NY 10022
Phone: 212-220-0900
Cell: 917-647-1884
E-mail: jrfriedman at litproplaw.com<mailto:jrfriedman at litproplaw.com>
URL: www.literarypropertylaw.com<http://www.literarypropertylaw.com>

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From: Kevin Grierson <kgrierson at cm.law>
Date: Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at 5:07 PM
To: For trademark practitioners. This is not for laypersons to seek legal advice. <e-trademarks at oppedahl-lists.com>
Cc: Jessica R. Friedman <jrfriedman at litproplaw.com>
Subject: RE: [E-trademarks] Proving that a corp. converted from an LLC owns trademarks registered by the LLC
The assignment specialist is wrong.  See TMEP 503.02.  “The USPTO records assignments of trademark applications and registrations, accompanied by completed cover sheets.  The USPTO also records documents that affect title to a trademark application or registration, such as certificates issued by appropriate authorities showing a change of name of a business or a merger of businesses.  Although a mere change of name does not constitute a change of legal entity, it is a proper link in the chain of title.  Documents of merger are also proper links in the chain of title.”

Kevin Grierson

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From: E-trademarks <e-trademarks-bounces at oppedahl-lists.com> On Behalf Of Jessica R. Friedman via E-trademarks
Sent: Wednesday, February 19, 2025 5:02 PM
To: For trademark practitioners. This is not for laypersons to seek legal advice. <e-trademarks at oppedahl-lists.com>
Cc: Jessica R. Friedman <jrfriedman at litproplaw.com>
Subject: Re: [E-trademarks] Proving that a corp. converted from an LLC owns trademarks registered by the LLC

EXTERNAL EMAIL
The Assignment specialist I spoke with today said that if the name has been changed, then they won’t accept an assignment that is identified as an entity conversion. But maybe I should just try it anyway. I can’t think of anything else, since the LLC is defunct and there is no one who can sign a document in its name.

Jessica R. Friedman
Attorney at Law
300 East 59 Street, Ste. 2406
New York, NY 10022
Phone: 212-220-0900
Cell: 917-647-1884
E-mail: jrfriedman at litproplaw.com<mailto:jrfriedman at litproplaw.com>
URL: www.literarypropertylaw.com<http://www.literarypropertylaw.com/>

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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 <e-trademarks at oppedahl-lists.com<mailto:e-trademarks at oppedahl-lists.com>>
Date: Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at 4:45 PM
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] Proving that a corp. converted from an LLC owns trademarks registered by the LLC
This is the way. The conversion should be enough by itself.
Tim Ackermann
The Ackermann Law Firm

E:  tim at ackermannlaw.com<mailto: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 Wed, Feb 19, 2025 at 3:32 PM Kevin Grierson via E-trademarks <e-trademarks at oppedahl-lists.com<mailto:e-trademarks at oppedahl-lists.com>> wrote:
Hi Jessica,

You can file entity conversion documents that don’t name trademarks, listing the trademark properties the entity owns, then file the assignment.  I’ve done it several times.

kwg

Kevin Grierson

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Partner

[cid:image002.png at 01DB82F0.A4C57ED0]<https://www.cm.law/>

[Mobile:]

  757-726-7799<tel:757-726-7799>

[Fax:]

  866-521-5663

[Email:]

  kgrierson at cm.law<mailto: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<mailto:e-trademarks-bounces at oppedahl-lists.com>> On Behalf Of Jessica R. Friedman via E-trademarks
Sent: Wednesday, February 19, 2025 4:18 PM
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: Jessica R. Friedman <jrfriedman at litproplaw.com<mailto:jrfriedman at litproplaw.com>>
Subject: [E-trademarks] Proving that a corp. converted from an LLC owns trademarks registered by the LLC

EXTERNAL EMAIL
This follows my earlier email about a company that converted from XYZ LLC to XYZ ABC Corp., and then assigned its trademarks to a new client of mine, who wants to record that assignment in the PTO.

My problem is that XYZ ABC Corp, the putative assignor, is not listed as the registrant and I have nothing to show how XYZ ABC Corp. became the owner of the trademarks other than a conversion document that doesn’t even mention trademarks or any assignment of assets, let alone goodwill, since, apparently, when you do a statutory conversion, no such assignment is required. (The company can even keep its old EIN.)

Is there any chance of the PTO’s accepting a conversion plan as a de facto assignment of trademarks from XYC LLC to XYZ ABC Corp., when the conversion plan says nothing at all about an assignment of assets? Or any chance of their being persuaded that no such assignment is necessary?

Jessica R. Friedman
Attorney at Law
300 East 59 Street, Ste. 2406
New York, NY 10022
Phone: 212-220-0900
Cell: 917-647-1884
E-mail: jrfriedman at litproplaw.com<mailto:jrfriedman at litproplaw.com>
URL: www.literarypropertylaw.com<http://www.literarypropertylaw.com/>

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