AUAP in trouble with AACRAO

[michael]

AACRAO Files Lawsuit to Protect the Association's Trademarks

On January 25, 2006, AACRAO filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia against American Universities Admission Program, Inc. (AUAP) and Jean-Noel Prade (defendants). The lawsuit alleges trademark infringement in violation of federal law, federal unfair competition and false designation of origin, and common law unfair competition under District of Columbia common law. In addition to seeking damages and a permanent injunction against AUAP and Prade, AACRAO is seeking a temporary restraining order to immediately enjoin AUAP and Prade from using any of AACRAO’s trademarks, falsely representing that they have any affiliation with AACRAO or otherwise engaging in deceptive acts and practices in the conduct of its business.

False claims of membership in AACRAO, unauthorized uses of the AACRAO logo, and deceptive practices intended to mislead the public into believing that certain activities and/or services have been reviewed, approved, or accredited by AACRAO are a significant problem for the Association. AACRAO and other legitimate higher education organizations are under constant assault by diploma mills, fake accrediting bodies and/or credential evaluation mills. These entities typically attempt to misappropriate AACRAO’s respected and reputable name to further their fraudulent and deceptive activities. Unfortunately, many such operations are beyond the reach of American law. Where AACRAO can take action, however, it will do so with the full force of the law to preserve the Association’s reputation and its intellectual property rights in its trademarks.

Information on this pending action is posted on the AACRAO web site.

Complaint: http://www.aacrao.org/reporting/complaint.pdf

Temporary Restraining Order: http://www.aacrao.org/reporting/tro.pdf

Memorandum of Points and Authorities: http://www.aacrao.org/reporting/memoofpointsandauthorities.pdf

[Robert J.]

I noticed they still have the AACRAO logo on their website.

More here:

http://insidehighered.com/news/2006/02/10/aacrao

The headline ("Registrars’ Group Takes On Diploma Mills") and content make it clear this is an attack on Robert de Sorbon, not just a trademark action. In that sense similar to the Regis/St. Regis action. Part of a similar strategy by the same players?

Nice timing, with Prade on the disabled list:
"...Prade was unavailable for comment because he had been hospitalized with four broken vertebrae sustained in an accident."

[James Grey]

Originally Posted by michael

AACRAO Files Lawsuit to Protect the Association's Trademarks

On January 25, 2006, AACRAO filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia against American Universities Admission Program, Inc. (AUAP) and Jean-Noel Prade (defendants). The lawsuit alleges trademark infringement in violation of federal law, federal unfair competition and false designation of origin, and common law unfair competition under District of Columbia common law. In addition to seeking damages and a permanent injunction against AUAP and Prade, AACRAO is seeking a temporary restraining order to immediately enjoin AUAP and Prade from using any of AACRAO’s trademarks, falsely representing that they have any affiliation with AACRAO or otherwise engaging in deceptive acts and practices in the conduct of its business.

False claims of membership in AACRAO, unauthorized uses of the AACRAO logo, and deceptive practices intended to mislead the public into believing that certain activities and/or services have been reviewed, approved, or accredited by AACRAO are a significant problem for the Association. AACRAO and other legitimate higher education organizations are under constant assault by diploma mills, fake accrediting bodies and/or credential evaluation mills. These entities typically attempt to misappropriate AACRAO’s respected and reputable name to further their fraudulent and deceptive activities. Unfortunately, many such operations are beyond the reach of American law. Where AACRAO can take action, however, it will do so with the full force of the law to preserve the Association’s reputation and its intellectual property rights in its trademarks.

Information on this pending action is posted on the AACRAO web site.

Complaint: http://www.aacrao.org/reporting/complaint.pdf

Temporary Restraining Order: http://www.aacrao.org/reporting/tro.pdf

Memorandum of Points and Authorities: http://www.aacrao.org/reporting/memoofpointsandauthorities.pdf

How sad. There is NO WAY that this could be true. It must be a malicious prank started by someone.

I wonder if this will affect that wonderful new ground breaking leading edge university that also runs out of Prade's office - Rabbit Sore-Bum?

[CROA]

On 2/28/2006, the TRO (temporary rerstraining order) motion from the expensive Law firm Aren't Fox representing the AACRAO against AUAP was denied by thr US District Court of Columbia.Ref 1:06-cv-00137

[michael]

How would someone verify CROA's information? I don't know how to look up this type of information.

[VocMan]

On another Chanel people complain that Sorbon is very quiet, Is the owner in the hospital?

Quote
For everyone's attention:

I'm pissed at Robert de S o r b o n

There email systems keep timing out and dropping messages from queues (especially mx1.sorbonedu.com).

Mail that does get through in many cases gets a 'mailbox full' rejection message.

Over 50 emails later, no replies have been received.

Requests for new applications - Applied for Sciences degree over 90 days ago. Even after paying the 600euro processing fee, no result has been heard yet.

If they are overworked, or have a large workload, this is not my problem - it's theirs.

I've raised disputes with PayPal and await their response.

If anyone from R.D.S. is reading this - please get your 'kin act together.

--------------------------------

[CROA]

Originally Posted by michael

How would someone verify CROA's information? I don't know how to look up this type of information.

The Court denied, in reality, not one but two motions presented by the AACRAO counsel against AUAP. It was filed electronically on 2/28/2006 at 12:23 PM EDT at the US District Court of the District of Columbia.

[CROA]

in it's pages, that their TBO motion (posted on their site) was denied by the Federal court ... Is it not funny ?

[michael]

Originally Posted by CROA

in it's pages, that their TBO motion (posted on their site) was denied by the Federal court ... Is it not funny ?

only to you.

[Capella Rocks]

Originally Posted by CROA

in it's pages, that their TBO motion (posted on their site) was denied by the Federal court ... Is it not funny ?

I have an issue with people who put truth out of context. Attached is the ruling by the court, which is available on PACER.

Shawn

[michael]

Originally Posted by Capella Rocks

I have an issue with people who put truth out of context. Attached is the ruling by the court, which is available on PACER.

Shawn

So basically the Judge has put the whole thing on hold? I'm sorry i don't speak lawyer.

[James Grey]

Originally Posted by Capella Rocks

I have an issue with people who put truth out of context. Attached is the ruling by the court, which is available on PACER.

Shawn

So action is temporarily stayed which is reasonable of the Court considering the apparently genuine unavoidable absence of Prade. In the event that Prade does not get anything going and file any sort of rebuttal or defence, he loses. In the meantime AACROA can take different action if it wishes to.

Prade won't win on this.

It is interesting the Prade becomes 'inoperative' and Rabbit Sore Bum also becomes inoperative. My contention form Day 1 has been that we can't prove if Alain exists other than in cyberspace - has anyone ever let him? OK - emails came from different places - which proves nothing either.

Things have a way of working out. Current matters seem to relate not to obvious out and out degree mills, but more those operations that are pseudo aned/or masqueraders. Robert Sorbonne in its varying guises, Adam Smith, IUFS, and the infamous gimmicky WIDU which really seems to be 'smoking something funny'.

I do believe that there are many people around the place who simply can't make the grade to get a real degree. They are attracted this new breed of institution like lawyers to a road accident. Some have a real degree, so why don't they get on with life and make the most of what they have achieved? Others have more chance of ice skating in hell than getting to first base.

So we attract them here as apologists, ******, ****** ...

[Capella Rocks]

Originally Posted by michael

So basically the Judge has put the whole thing on hold? I'm sorry i don't speak lawyer.

Basically, yes. The court denied the TRO, but set a deadline for both parties for motions for a temporary injunction.

This is why I placed the entire document - by reading the order in context, (even though it is in "Lawyer"), it is hard to argue against the truth presented in its entire context.

Shawn

[CROA]

As you see AACRAO, through its lawyers, presented a motion, which was denied by the court . I think, not being a lawyer that the facts are clear.

It is strange that AACRAO posted its TRO Ttemporary Restraining Order) motion but "forget" to mention the result: "Denied".

Also the contention is about the fact of AACRAO membership (real or associate) not about any university.

From what I heard from somebody present at the hearing, the judge wants a private setllement.

[michael]

They have also given AACRAO to bring up other charges they want to bring up, so I don't see how you could consider this a "win"

[Capella Rocks]

Originally Posted by CROA

As you see AACRAO, through its lawyers, presented a motion, which was denied by the court . I think, not being a lawyer that the facts are clear.

It is strange that AACRAO posted its TRO Ttemporary Restraining Order) motion but "forget" to mention the result: "Denied".

Also the contention is about the fact of AACRAO membership (real or associate) not about any university.

From what I heard from somebody present at the hearing, the judge wants a private setllement.

Most judges want a private settlement as litigation is expensive and time consuming.

As far as a win goes - your original post made it seem as though AACRAO lost. The judge, while denying the TRO, decided to push the matter back due to the lack of counsel for the AUAP. So for anyone to declare a win, loss, or draw is a bit premature. In addition, AACRAO may decide to appeal the decision for the TRO.

This is not a win for AUAP at all. Not a loss for AACRAO. Just normal legal business.

Please note that Sorbon is answering emails and accepted at least one application that I am aware of, so they are in business. Prade is flat on his back - so I wonder how he can be the same person as Alain if Alain is pretty easy to contact and responds back. The gossip here is funny. Why not call France or the embassy and then you will have facts instead of gossip.