|
Leo D. Stoller (born June 5, 1946) is an American self-styled "intellectual property entrepreneur" based in suburban Chicago, Illinois. Stoller controversially claimed rights to a large inventory of "famous" trademarks and engaged in the assertive enforcement of those alleged trademark rights, threatening infringement action against people and companies who attempt to use similar marks. Though he managed to obtain license payments in some circumstances through demand letters, Stoller lost some key challenges in federal court, and was sanctioned by United States regulators for filing thousands of motions. A federal court labeled Stoller and his companies as "vexatious litigants" in 2005, and his bankruptcy filing from that year was converted to a liquidation in 2006 after the judge found Stoller's filing to have been made in bad faith. On August 8, 2007, the bankruptcy court approved the sale of Stoller's trademark assets to the Society for the Prevention of Trademark Abuse, LLC.〔''In re Leo Stoller, Debtor'', no. 05-B-64075 (N.D. Ill., Aug. 8, 2007); Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Order Approving Sales of Debtor's Assets〕 ==Background== Stoller's companies included Rentamark.com, Stealth Industries Inc., S Industries Inc., Sentra Sporting Goods U.S.A., and Central Manufacturing Company. Through these companies, Stoller has registered trademarks with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for over 25 years including Stealth, Sentra, Dark Star, Air Frame, Triana, Stradivarius, Havoc, Chestnut, Trillium, White Line Fever, Fire Power, Love Your Body, and many others. Stoller has filed oppositions to others' trademark applications with the USPTO Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) numerous times, and filed applications for extension of the deadline to file such oppositions even more times. Stoller claims a number of large and small companies have resolved trademark controversies. When approaching infringers, Stoller is reported to document his claims with copies of letters which demonstrate capitulation with his demands. Such letters are said to be from companies such as K-Mart, and often marked "Confidential". A list of thousands of proceedings involving Leo Stoller and his companies (Stealth Industries, Inc., Leo Stoller Stealth Industries Inc., Leo Stoller Central Mfg. Co, Central Mfg. Co., Central Mfg. Inc., Sentra Industries Inc.) can be found in the USPTO site.〔http://ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/v?pnam=Stealth%20Industries,%20Inc.〕〔(USPTO TTABVUE. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Inquiry System )〕〔http://ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/v?pnam=LEO%20STOLLER%20CENTRAL%20MFG.%20CO〕〔(USPTO TTABVUE. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Inquiry System )〕〔http://ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/v?pnam=CENTRAL%20MFG.%20INC.〕〔http://ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/v?pnam=Sentra%20Industries%20INC.〕 Articles about Stoller have appeared in ''The New York Times''〔Moynihan, Colin, "(He Says He Owns the Word 'Stealth' (Actually, He Claims 'Chutzpah,' Too) )", ''The New York Times'', July 4, 2005〕 and the ''Chicago Sun-Times''.〔Ngo, Emily (July 28, 2005). 'Stealth' fighter: Chicago man says movie name belongs to him. ''Chicago Sun-Times''〕 He has been quoted in the ''Wall Street Journal''〔Flandez, Raymund (Tiny firm wins 'Chewy Vuiton' suit, but still feels a bite. ) ''Wall Street Journal''〕 and interviewed on Fox News, CBS News and talk radio programs. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Leo Stoller」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|