Is Famed Trademark Troll Leo Stoller Trying To Stealthily Reclaim Bogus Stealth Trademarks?

from the stealthy! dept

Mon, Jul 19th 2010 9:37am — Mike Masnick

Back in 2005, we wrote about the rather crazy case of Leo Stoller, the "trademark troll," who claimed incredibly broad trademarks on single words (sometimes through questionable means) and then tried to shakedown pretty much anyone who used those words for cash. The key trademark he claimed to hold was on the word "stealth" for "all goods and services." Among those he demanded money from were Columbia Pictures for the movie Stealth, baseball player George Brett for selling a "Stealth" brand baseball bat and (my favorite) Northrup Grumman for making the stealth bomber.

One company he threatened, Pure Fishing, fought back hard. Just as he was about to lose, he tried declaring bankruptcy to protect himself, but after the bankruptcy judge found that his "filing contained bogus information and unreported assets," the bankruptcy was converted into a liquidation, including not just Stoller's corporate assets, but his personal assets as well. He was also barred from filing more trademark applications for a while. Following this, a trustee was appointed to liquidate his assets (including his totally bogus and made up claim to have owned a trademark on "Google" since 1981). In his fight against Google, he insisted that at the end, Google will "go out of business." The court trustee dumped that claim pretty quickly. Oh yeah, the court also canceled 44 of Stoller's existing and pending trademarks on "stealth."

We hadn't heard much about Stoller since then (though he did post a comment on one of our posts, saying that in the end he would "come out on top!"). However, The Trademark Blog points us to a report suggesting that Stoller is stealthily trying to get new trademarks on "stealth," though he seems to be somewhat incompetent about it, and the USPTO isn't buying it. Beyond the fact that the application processing fee check bounced, there are all sorts of problems with the Stealth trademark applications, not the least of which is that they don't seem to show any real products, but instead show a bunch of other products with the word "Stealth" sloppily Photoshopped onto the image:

So, the examiner pointed out that it's a problem that the examples of the use appear to be "digitally altered images of objects to which the mark has been added," and is asking for multiple examples of the actual products for each class of products intended to be covered. She's also a bit curious over the claim that the use of Stealth has been claimed to be in use by the entity applying for the trademarks since January 1981, but the company has only been around since 2007.

And what is the company? Why it's the Christopher Stoller Pension and Profit Sharing Plan. It appears the USPTO is on to Leo Stoller, and not "fooled" by this new entity.

Applicant indicates that it occupies office space with Leo Stoller, that Leo Stoller does not own any stock/shares or interest in the entity Christopher Stoller Pension & Profit Sharing Plan Ltd, and that the date of formation of Christopher Stoller Pension & Profit Sharing Plan Ltd was on or about 2007. The examining attorney notes that although applicant indicates in its response that it merely occupies office space with Leo Stoller and that "he is NOT associated with this Applicant nor is Central Mfg Co., Stealth Industries, Inc., Sentra Industries, Inc., or any other entity that Leo Stoller was or is associated with," the email address entered for confirmation of the submission of the filing is "LEO STOLLER," ldms4@hotmail.com. It thus appears Mr. Stoller has some connection to the applicant by being named to receive confirmation of the filing. *** Applicant must indicate any position(s) held and title(s) used by Leo D. Stoller (e.g. officer, director, partner, managing executive, employee) in respect to the incorporated or otherwise legally formed entity Christopher Stoller Pension and Profit Sharing Plan LLC , and beginning and ending dates of such pension(s).

Yes, so, if you're playing along at home, this attempt to (re?)register "stealth" trademarks by pretending to be someone other than Leo Stoller suffers from a bounced check, a claim of use that predates the company by 26 years, no evidence of actual products other than really weak Photoshop images and a claim to have nothing to do with Leo Stoller, despite the name Stoller, a shared office and the email address used was "LEO STOLLER ldms4@hotmail.com." That's not very stealthy, Leo.

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Filed Under: leo stoller, stealth, trademark

15 Comments

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Dark Helmet (profile), 19 Jul 2010 @ 9:53am

Jesus...
Facepalm!

Why does it seem so many of these morons come from in or around Chicago?

Seriously, all these piddly little schemes aside, this guy was slapped down for illegally operating a charitable organization (1) and also because that charitable organization didn't....you know....give the money it collected TO FUCKING CHARITY!

And the supposed cause for that charitable group? Collecting money for victims of the 9/11 attacks. What an absolute pole smoker....
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Jul 2010 @ 10:17am

I am hoping that given all the adversity that Mr. Stoller is facing, that when he finally prevails we will get to see him dancing in front of the USPTO to "I will Survive"
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Jul 2010 @ 10:27am

some people never learn
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Jay (profile), 19 Jul 2010 @ 10:41am

Old saying
"Give them enough rope, eventually they hang themselves"

Funny how he just can't let go...
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ac, 19 Jul 2010 @ 10:49am

IANAL
but this all seems like it should be illegal. Most of that description sounds like fraud. Shouldn't this d-bag go to prison?
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Andrew, 19 Jul 2010 @ 10:54am

Disturbed
My only thought is that this guy has to be mentally disturbed in some way. There's just no sane reason someone would do this.
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Colg, 19 Jul 2010 @ 11:29am

He needs formal recognition for this.
Well we have recently seen the first Pulitzer prize for campaign promises.

Since they seem to be making new categories we should push for a Pulitzer prize for stupidity and nominate old Leo.
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AW, 19 Jul 2010 @ 1:30pm

Maybe he should try to get a trademark on "fail" seems to be he's very good at producing that.
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Jul 2010 @ 1:47pm

I was really hoping to see one of the meat bots troll this article...
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Jul 2010 @ 7:22pm

Future as a trademark...
There's some other nutcase who's apparently trying to trademark the word 'future'.... Where do these people come from?
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vrob (profile), 19 Jul 2010 @ 9:01pm

I love Leo Stoller
This Leo Stoller guy just brightened up my day. I love you Leo Stoller for not letting the man get you down with his crazy laws telling you that can't live your dream to own everything everywhere. Good for you Leo Stoller!

If only there was a Darwin Award in the category of Trademark Abuse.
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Avatar28 (profile), 20 Jul 2010 @ 9:50am

spam city!
Hahaha! I love the fact that they published his email address. I'm sure all the spambot scrapers will have it in their databases within a week. This poor sap is about to get spammed to death. Still, I wonder if some enterprising folks couldn't manage to get him signed up on some tasty mailing lists; you know, bestiality pr0n and the like. :)
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Chili Palmer, 20 Jul 2010 @ 11:54pm

Leo Stoller Truth Serum Blog
The Christopher Stoller Pension and Profit Sharing Plan? That's a hoot.

The USPTO might want to look a little closer at the Petition to Revive for Office Action that was signed on January 11, 2010 with a declaration by "Christopher Stoller" as to its truthfulness. (A link to the document is below.

The problem is, Christopher Stoller was incarcerated in Arizona in early-2009. After being in the local lockup, he was sent to the Arizona Department of Corrections (prison)where, after serving out that sentence, he was to be extradited to Illinois.

Dollars to doughnuts says Christopher Stoller was incarcerated on the date of the declaration dated January 11, 2010. And oddly enough, the contact information in the petition is the same contact information used most often by Christopher's brother who is, of course, Leo Stoller.

If the USPTO were truly on top of things, it may want to verify where Christopher was on the date of this "declaration," and give him a visit to find out if he had anything to do with it. After all, there are TTAB findings after findings, as well as case after case, that note Leo Stoller's penchant for forgery, perjury, fraud, and every other form of lowlife behavior you can imagine.

The USPTO on top of things? Don't think so. Year-after-year they have dealt with Leo Stoller with sanctions and rebukes, which are nothing but a slap on a wrist to a guy who seems to care less. If they were on top of things, it seems the USPTO would have the muscle to bring the proper authorities in and get to the true bottom of things.

Check out the document and others at:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/25348455/CHRISTOPHER-STOLLER-TRADEMARK-OFFICE-PETITION
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Katz, 11 Sep 2010 @ 12:59pm

He was a good client of ours at one time!
Hm, I just looked up his old account and found out who he was! I used to be intrigued when speaking with this guy on the phone from time to time, interesting. He was actually quite a good customer for many years. I just read some of his blog and it seems he is not as all bad as most people make him, the fake charity must have had other issues behind it, things are not always what they seem!
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Chili Palmer, 21 Jan 2011 @ 6:24am

LEO STOLLER INDICTED ON FEDERAL FRAUD CHARGES
Leo Stoller indicted for fraud.

Read the document at http://www.scribd.com/doc/46454179/LEO-STOLLER-INDICTED-FOR-FRAUD

Leo Stoller is not an attorney, but claims to be an expert in many areas of the law, including legal ethics, intellectual property, trademarks, and appellate practice. Leo Stoller represents himself to the public as the director of an organization called the �Americans for the Enforcement of Attorney Ethics� (AEAE), which he claims is an �attorney watch dog group� established in 1974.

The federal defender program has been appointed to represent Leo Stoller against the fraud charges, after the court reviewed his Affidavit of Financial Status and was satisfied that Stoller is financially unable to employ counsel.
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