Legal Trade Mark Office Malpractice and Professional Negligence Arlington Virginia

I engaged the services of a company called LegalTrademarkOffice.com, managed by a representative named Christian Laird, to file a federal trademark for a custom-designed cartoon clock logo I intended to use on books, apparel, and merchandise. From the outset, I made it explicitly clear in writing and through the onboarding process that the trademark would be used for commercial purposes, including merchandising.

Despite that, the company never conducted or advised a copyright search or confirmed whether I had the rights to the design—which is a fundamental requirement for registering logos used in commerce. They also charged me for extra classes covering merchandise and apparel, indicating they understood my commercial intent. After filing, I was told the trademark was “cleared” and that I could use the ™ symbol. I relied on that advice in launching my book and merchandise.

That advice was false and negligent. Weeks later, my Amazon publishing account was suspended due to copyright infringement, causing loss of sales, reputational harm, and emergency licensing costs. I was forced to independently obtain a commercial license to avoid being deplatformed permanently.

The company now claims that copyright issues were “outside the scope” of their services. However, the very nature of filing a trademark on artwork for commercial use inherently requires copyright clearance or at the very least, disclosure of that risk. Their failure to provide that basic legal guidance, while charging for trademark classes related to merchandise, constitutes gross misrepresentation and deceptive practice.

They also upcharged me for access to an “attorney,” but I was never introduced to or contacted by any licensed attorney. This raises further questions about the legitimacy of their representation. They have since refused to refund the thousands of dollars I paid, despite the fact that the application is now effectively worthless without exclusive rights to the artwork.

I am submitting this complaint because I believe this company is engaging in deceptive business practices, failing to disclose critical legal limitations, and causing financial harm to small business owners who rely on their expertise. They do not deliver the legal clarity or due diligence that their marketing and sales language imply.

I have retained all written correspondence, including emails confirming their knowledge of my intended use, and the failure to perform a copyright clearance. I am also willing to provide documentation of the Amazon account suspension, the emergency license I had to purchase, and the original contract terms.

• Amount Paid: Total you paid to LegalTrademarkOffice.com
• Payment Method: (e.g., Credit Card via their portal)
• Date of Most Recent Payment: (e.g., 07/04/2025)
• How It Started: Likely “Website or App”
• Company Name: LegalTrademarkOffice.com
• Person You Dealt With: Christian Laird
• Contact Info: [Phone: (408) 256-3271, Website: www.legaltrademarkoffice.com]