UPDATE ON TRADEMARKS/ Intereference by OLAASM people

By Sue Basko

There are 2 trademark applications pending.  The one made by Jeffrey Pierce for "Occupy Los Angeles" cannot progress until if and when he properly files the application.  

The other application, made by Aaron Hawke for "Occupy LA" has been assigned to a Trademark Examiner.  That means there is likely to be action on the application fairly soon.

WHAT IS HAPPENING ABOUT THIS/ OLAASM INTERFERENCE:  People from the Legal Committee were in contact with me about this trademark situation and we were discussing in detail what to do.   As it happened, there are OLAASM people on the Legal Committee who made it impossible to help out.  I was told the OLAASM people were counterproductive and obstructionist.  OLAASM is the group that is anti-OLA, but within OLA.  Then, the  OLAASM group posted about 10 very evil, false tweets regarding my attempts to help OLA with the trademark topic.   For those that do not know -- OLAASM is the anonymous group within OLA that has posted online vicious attacks against many OLA members and associates.  The attacks have caused a great deal of confusion, chaos, and fear for the innocent victims of this nasty group.

The OLAASM people also posted tweets containing confidential lawyer-client information that was made available to them as part of their being on the legal committee. This was extremely inappropriate behavior that jeopardized not only me, but all of Occupy Los Angeles.  OBVIOUSLY -- neither I nor ANY lawyer will be able to assist OLA with the trademark issues as long as OLAASM people are on the Legal Committee -  or even as long as they are associated with Occupy LA.  

  For any legal work on the applications, the group MUST be represented by a lawyer, and the lawyer has to be in good standing at the Trademark Office.

  IF either application progresses, you SHOULD  file a formal objection.  It is possible to file an informal objection now, though it may have no legal bearing.  You MUST have a lawyer do this and the lawyer MUST be in good standing with the trademark office.  

I also suggest you file trademark applications -- ideally, on both names -- Occupy Los Angeles and Occupy LA -- but at least on one of them.  Trademark applications are NOT INEXPENSIVE!  The filing fees are very high (about $300  per mark per category) and there is legal work over 18 months - 2 years.   Again, this must be done by a lawyer in good standing at the trademark office.    I made an offer to do that work for the lowest possible price I can afford to do it -- I am a solo practitioner and am not able to offer this sort of complex, long-term  service for free.   I am unaware of any service offering pro bono services in the trademark area.   

  OWS had the same situation and they then filed applications for several categories.  

I also suggest that you assign someone to check the files every week to see if the applications have progressed or if any new ones have been filed. Again, i strongly suggest you find someone who is pro-OLA to handle this task.  

AGAIN -- I CANNOT CONTINUE TO HELP OLA WITH THIS TRADEMARK SITUATION AS LONG AS THERE ARE ANY OLAASM OR BLACKBLOCMEDIA people ON THE LEGAL COMMITTEE OR IN ANY WAY AFFILIATED WITH IT.  I wish OLA well in working out this situation.  I have explained where it stands as of now.  

You are on your own with this and I cannot assist because of the extreme interference and inappropriate behavior  by the OLAASM people. Sorry.  I wish the good people of OLA the best in this matter.  

 -- Sue B.