3.05.2009

REALTOR®

Today, a fellow trademark examiner asked me for some advice about an application I had refused based on the fact that REALTOR® is a registered trademark and therefore this person (who was not the National Association of Realtors) could not have it. When she called in a rage to have me explain each and every problem that was wrong with the application, I did so. She then demanded her money back. When I advised her that once the filing fee has been paid and an attorney has reviewed it, there is no refund, she decided to write a letter to the Commissioner For Trademarks. The walk down memory lane was so enjoyable that I thought I'd share the applicant's response with you for your viewing pleasure:



Dear Sir or Madam:


Please review your attorney's denial of this trademark and then return my application fee to me promptly. The reasons she gave were absolutely invalid.

By the sheer number of attorneys that contacted me wanting to represent me in this matter, it is obvious that you gave out my information without my authorization. Is this just another government scam to forward the American Bar Association's lobby? How disgusting. I will turn this matter over to my congress woman, Hilary [sic] Clinton to expose your corrupt practices if my money is not returned. Shame on you for robbing the small business owners of this country. Organizations like yours are why the American public deeply mistrusts our government!!!

When I realized what you were doing. I immediately withdrew the application, so please give back my much needed money. You have spent no time or effort on my behalf, so this should not be a problem, if you're honest.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

what a B!

baji said...

yeah, it was REALLY fun talking to her on the phone. i had her letter taped up to my door for a long time for everyone to enjoy.

Abez said...

That letter is for real, really? Complete with multiple exclamation points?

*blink blink*

baji said...

yep, for really really real. well, she's not an attorney so i can forgive her the multiple exclamation points but i do know this one attorney who uses them freely in his legal documents which just smacks of unprofessionalism to me!!!

tp wanted to me take this post down for concern that she'd find it. what say ye all?

Anonymous said...

how wud she find it unless she were looking for it? & even if she did, could she file for defamation...?you havent hinted at her identity...

baji said...

exactly! he's just paranoid. you are correct - i haven't indicated who she is, what her mark was, and on top of all that, her application file is completely open to the public anyway! it's not like i'm republishing confidential material.