AARP Attorneys Blindside Reverse Mortgage Blog

Posted by Charles D

February 11, 2009

If you are in the reverse mortgage industry, here is a word of caution. Never use the AARP logo on a reverse mortgage site without permission you can easily become the subject of potential litigation. I removed the logos so fast, it would have made Mohamed Ali proud.

Charles Dennis

Re: AARP v. Reverse-Loans.net

Our File # 49.9

Dear Mr. Dennis:

It has recently come to our attention that your establishment has been misusing the AARP logo to attract senior persons to your business. Specifically, your company is using the AARP logo on its website www.reverse-loans.net. A copy of the infringement is attached. Your use of the AARP name creates the false impression that AARP endorses your services.

AARP owns and has used, since 1958, the AARP trademark and service mark for a number of goods and services including association services and other goods and services directed primarily to retired and senior persons. AARP has also registered the AARP mark, alone and in combination with other words, with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. AARP thus demands that you, your company, and any other person or business acting in concert with you:

(1) permanently and immediately cease and desist all use of the mark AARP and any other confusingly similar marks, alone or in combination with any other word(s), term(s), symbol(s) and/or design(s), as well as all false and misleading statements that lead consumers to believe that your company is connected with or endorsed or approved by AARP, or that AARP has endorsed any product or service that you promote;

(2) provide the name of the company that created the website;

(3) provide to us a list of all newspapers, periodicals, and direct mailers in which you have used the AARP mark; and

(4) provide an accounting of the monies that your company has spent on advertising and promotion using the AARP mark.

Because “AARP” is a registered mark of AARP, it may only be used with permission. For this as well as other reasons, AARP carefully controls and monitors the use of its name.

AARP takes this matter very seriously. Please respond only in writing to xxxxxx@aarp.org or via facsimile to 434-2339. Telephone calls will not be accepted or returned. If you do not provide a written response within five (5) business days from the date of this letter, we may institute litigation against your company without further notice.

We look forward to a prompt and favorable response.

Sincerely,

Nxxxxxxx Bxxxxx, Esq.

AARP Office of General Counsel