'Reputation Doctor' vs Reputation.com

Mike Paul, CEO of MGP & Associates PR, wants an apology and compensation from Reputation.com for the alleged theft of his trademarked "Reputation Doctor" brand name.

The New York counselor told O'Dwyer's that he began using the Reputation Doctor brand in 1994 and had the term trademarked last July. On its website, the online service had billed itself as a Reputation Doctor, who knows how to employ SEO strategies correctly and how to improve the way a client appears in Google searches.

Paul says he made an effort to contact Reputation.com management to demand that it "cease and desist" from using his intellectual property.

This website reached out to Reputation.com vice chairman Howard Bragman, founder of Bragman Nyman Cafarelli and Fifteen Minutes celebrity/crisis PR firms, on March 22 for input on Paul’s charges. Bragman, via email, said he "was not aware of a legal issue" with Paul. He referred the site to Leslie Hobbs, who is Reputation.com's in-house PR counsel.

Hobbs responded on March 25, saying the company had looked into the matter. She noted that the company does not use the "term Reputation Doctor as part of our branding or core marketing."

Hobbs continued: "After looking into this allegation, however, we did note that we do have a peripheral blog post that refers to the concept of a Reputation Doctor as someone helping to address problems with your reputation.

"The drawing of such an analogy, however, in a conceptual discussion is certainly not a trademark issue. ‘Nevertheless, to avoid issues, we were happy to take this blog post down."

The takedown of the Reputation Doctor post does not soothe Paul, who believes his business and reputation has been damaged.

"The world knows I am the only Reputation Doctor, including global media outlets, major media outlets, major corporations, politicians, celebs and more around the world for 19 years as a nickname in business and since July 2012 as a federally registered trademark," Paul said.

He says the tussle with Reputation.com, which he views as a classic David vs. Goliath clash, is only beginning. His attorneys are going over the matter with a "fine-toothed comb and microscope."

Paul says Reputation.com can either settle the issue the "easy way or the hard way."