Not all real estate agents are REALTORS.
That’s the gist of the lawsuit the National Association of Realtors filed in the Western District on Jan. 8 against Champions Real Estate Services Inc. and a number of individuals.
The Association alleges the defendants “continue to represent themselves as REALTORS without authorization” and use the Association’s registered trademarks to describe themselves to the public.
The Association says it asked the defendants to cease and desist from using their marks but the defendants responded by denying the Association’s trademark rights.
The Association says a number of its marks date back to 1916 and are incontestable, including REALTOR and REALTORS.
Defendants have not yet answered the complaint.
The case cite is National Association of Realtors v. Champions Real Estate Services Inc., No. 10-049 (W.D. Wash.).