Pixel Logo design made a logo for our high school student newspaper in 2018. A year later, we completely redesigned the site with a new logo. I had not heard from Pixel Logo Design since 2018, but this year during Yom Kippur (the highest Jewish holiday) at 6:30 p.m., I received an urgent email and text from Pixel Logo design (which I have posted below).
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Here's the email for you to better understand the complete process if you would like to proceed with the process of trademarking your business name with USPTO If not than as explained we will honor the trademark to the other applicant who contacted our company to file the trademark I-e exactly similar to your business name.
The USPTO is a standard fee and would be filed under your name. We would assist you with completing the paperwork and filing with the USPTO on your behalf, at the time of filing you will receive a filing receipt with a serial number, which can be used to track the status of the application. After it's filed, however, the USPTO takes about 3 months to assign the application to an available examining attorney, who will manually review the application and decide on the approval, the entire process may take 11 - 12 months to approve.
Senior Trademark Consultant
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After receiving this email, I contacted legal council, who warned me about this being a fraud and I requested that Pixel Logo Design, which reveal the identity of the supposed "other company" seeking a trademark our newspapers name and URL. I also spoke with the repetitiveness, who wrote the above email, and she was incredibly unprofessional with limited ability to communicate in English.
After weeks of radio silence from Pixel Logo Design, again late on a Friday afternoon, I received this email and text from another member of the Pixel Logo Design's legal department.
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Hi,
Hope you're doing well,
We have received an application to register the trademark for the same business name as yours - The Gator
Upon searching the business name in our database, your information popped up, since we have designed your logo. Therefore, as our Company's policy for this coincidence, we are giving you the benefit to choose, as you are an old client, whether you'd like to register the trademark or not, as we need to respond to the other applicant as well.
The other applicant is all ready to initiate the process, but I need your final words before we proceed with their application.
Kindly reach us out ASAP or provide us with the best number and time for the paralegal team to reach you.
Regards,
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I told this new representative not to contact me anymore, and he threatened me via text saying that "we do not need your permission to have it trademarked. You will not be able to use this name legally. Good luck (sic)."
When I also informed this representative of the urgent message from his colleague several months ago, and why Pixel Logo Design didn't just follow through then with the patent for the "the other company," he wrote, "Since the process is too long this is the reason. I will asked my management to remove your name from those who are interested."
My legal council encouraged me to report Pixel Logo Design to the Better Business Bureau, which I am doing. read more