We were awarded the U.S. Registered Trademark "Inspector's Journal" today.

[Nick Gromicko]

I'm pleased to announce that InterNACHI's sister publishing company, Real Property Times, Inc. was awarded the U.S. Registered Trademark "Inspector's Journal" today.

[Jeffrey R. Jonas]

This could get interesting...

http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/

[James H. Bushart]

Mike O'Handjob is now operating his blog at the will and whim of Nick Gromicko.

I love it.

I'll bet the chatter over this will increase his posts to more than five per day.

[Brian A. MacNeish]

Originally Posted by jjonas

This could get interesting...

http://www.inspectorsjournal.com/

That's real interesting as on their website, they have a "TM" to the upper right of the name. That usually represents "trademarked"!!!

[Christopher Currins]

Originally Posted by Brian A. MacNeish

That's real interesting as on their website, they have a "TM" to the upper right of the name. That usually represents "trademarked"!!!

THE Inspector's Journal

[Nick Gromicko]

A Registered Trademark protects itself and the space around it against deceptively similar marks. Putting the word "the" in front of someone else's Registered Trademark doesn't change this, any more than it would change it for deceptively similar marks such as "The Microsoft" or "The Ford Motor Company."

[Joe Farsetta]

The problem is that he can prove that he occupied the space prior to the trademark application. As with a patent, the argument can be that we were aware of the name's current use, and went ahead and trademarked it anyway. This will be especially interesting, as the other board is a competitor of InterNACHI's.

We'll see where this goes...

As to the notion of challenging a trademark, they DO get revoked. One of the key tests for whether a new trademark can be challenged is if it creates confusion over another company's products and services. Do you think there is a similarity here, seeing how InterNACHI represents home inspectors, has a large message board of its own, and has made/allowed disparaging domments regardng the current owner and operator of the competing board known as The Inspector's Journal?

In InterNACHI's case, because we are a larger, more recognizable name, the name confusion might drive some of O'Handley's visitors into InterNACHI's arms.

Why did we even BOTHER???

[Chuck Evans]

IMO: This falls under the category of dirty tricks. Obviously this organization knew that the name was already in use within the industry and a trademark was already claimed for it (albeit not registered, but still no less valid). Frankly, I think the registered mark should be revoked. It actually never should have been awarded.

I wonder how our members would feel if a competitor swooped in and registered a mark that matched their trademarked company name.

Doesn't make me feel very proud to be connected with these kind of shenanigans.

[Nick Gromicko]

It has only begun.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by gromicko

The "shenanigans" have only begun.

O'Handjob's attacks against NACHI and its members will have to come under a new name. I can suggest a few.

[Chuck Evans]

Originally Posted by jbushart

O'Handjob's attacks against NACHI and its members will have to come under a new name. I can suggest a few.

When you wrestle with a pig, you and the pig both get covered in shiit, but the pig enjoys it.

[Brian E. Kelly]

Wasn't there are a post here from Mike H earlier??

[Christopher Currins]

Originally Posted by bkelly2

Wasn't there are a post here from Mike H earlier??

Yep, I'm sure he's got a copy.

[James E. Braun, CMI]

I got to admit, every since this message board has gotten moderated, this board has been a little on the boring side. This should make things more interesting. Thanks Nick!

[Mike O'Handley]

I had posted something but I took it down.

I've been aware of the attempts to steal my mark for nearly two years now and hired an intellectual property law firm over a year ago to deal with this.

You can call it anything you like and package it any way you like but fraud/theft - even of a small thing like my trademark by making false declarations on a federal trademark application - is still fraud/theft.

I'm glad to see that at least Joe recognizes this for what it really is.

I'm sure that the truly honorable among the interNACHI membership will consider this to be a despicable act and I'm guessing this is the kind of branding that they don't want. Unfortunately, since Real Property Times and interNACHI are Nick's sandbox and not theirs, they don't have the right or the power to do anything about it.

ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!

Mike