DOB Receives Sincerest Form of Flattery
And here we thought the great of era of misleading real estate offers was behind us! We were a little taken aback when we received this official-looking letter from someone interested in paying “top dollar” for our house last week. Why does this letterhead look so familiar, we wondered? (You can click on either image…
And here we thought the great of era of misleading real estate offers was behind us! We were a little taken aback when we received this official-looking letter from someone interested in paying “top dollar” for our house last week. Why does this letterhead look so familiar, we wondered? (You can click on either image to see a larger version.) Then we made the connection. We wonder how the Department of Buildings, which has recently updated its logo, is going to feel about the similarity. The folks at Plan NYC might not be too thrilled about the name either. Any IP lawyers out there?
No claim lies. Nothing wrong with the letter, the DOB logo is not trademarked anyway.
This reminds me of the ReMax/Rehava logo suit: http://hookusa.wordpress.com/2009/03/12/social-media-protects-rehava-and-puts-remax-in-its-place/
Mr. B;
Well, are you interested in their offer?
Really the only similarity in the logo is the roofline. The colors and the fonts are totally different. I wouldn’t confuse them and I’ve seen other real estate logos that use a roof line to reference a the real estate industry. I think its pretty common.
Really the only similarity in the logo is the roofline. The colors and the fonts are totally different. I wouldn’t confuse them and I’ve seen other real estate logos that use a roof line to reference a the real estate industry. I think its pretty common.
I do IP law, and I bet both DOB and Plan NYC have a case for trademark infringement. If either tried to sue, I bet the infringing company would close up shop and disappear.
I would only add that, if anything, recipients will get pissed-off with NYC Plan once they realize they’re nothing to do with the DOB, and that’s probably not good for business.
Also, if you get fooled by this into selling your house to what you think is the DOB, they’ve probably done you a favor. Now, what to do with all that money? I have a bridge in Brooklyn that I think you’ll absolutely love!
I often get the fly by night mortgage broker mail which tries to seem as if it’s coming from my lender. This doesn’t seem any sleazier than that. And as far as keeping anonymous — I think it’s too late for that. You can look up all the public information on Mr. B in the usual places to find the address, phone #, building permits, title docs, etc.
I don’t think so Slopey.