Trade Mark Issues

[Platonic]

Hello twoplustwo,

My business has recently encountered a problem. We have been operating for 2 years and we just now received our response from the trademark offices (Don't ask why this took two years, I will just tilt). Our trademark has been rejected because of a possible conflict with a trademark owned by another company. The lawyer who filed my trademark for me (for like $150 fee + the $300 gov fee), somehow believes that this company no longer uses the trademark (mentioned something about the SEC) and suggests we request the company to officially abandon the trademark with the threat of a cancellation proceeding. My question to two plus two is, how does this lawyer have any clue as to whether or not they are using the trademark? Also, he is asking for $900 if we continue on to a cancellation proceeding, is this a normal price? I understand $300 of this is a gov fee. My business is very small, and while $900 won't make or break us its certainly inconvenient to pay, especially if its just on some hunch that they don't use the trademark anymore. How can I get more information?


Thanks twoplustwo,
Platonic

[mtgordon]

Ask him how he knows they aren't using it anymore.

[superadvisor]

Google the trademarked name you want to investigate

after that try superpages

[Platonic]

[ QUOTE ]
Google the trademarked name you want to investigate

after that try superpages

[/ QUOTE ]

Can't find anything online that would indicate they use the mark...