Tenant copy rights his name

Tenant copy rights his name

Rental Property Investor · Clarksville, TN · Member since 2017 · 73 posts · 99 votes

We had a previous tenant move at the end of his lease. He was an ok tenant. However, there were damages, to include that he tried to install a Nest thermostat and blew a fuse because of it. He tried reinstalled the original thermostat and wired the emergency heat to the cool terminal. Long story short, we sent him a disposition of deposit with an invoice because his deposit didn't cover all repairs. He emailed us back stating we have no authority to utilize or charge his name to anything. He had some attached legal copy right documents of his name with penalties of the use of his name. He ended the email with we should be receiving an invoice shortly and hear from his attorneys. I've heard it all, y'all..

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Ned CareyPro Member
Moderator
Investor · Baltimore, MD · Member since 2008 · 17k+ posts · 13k+ votes
7y

@Asury Johnson Send him a letter back saying coincidental you have copyrighted your name.  Tell him he owes you double for using your name in his reply.

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  • Rental Property Investor · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2017 · 2k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    7y

    Send him a demand letter for the damages and let him know that if it goes to court, you will be asking the court to award you the rights to his trademark to partially offset the damages. That should infuriate and confuse him. 

  • Rental Property Investor · Clarksville, TN · Member since 2017 · 73 posts · 99 votes
    7y

    @Courtney Vitek not surprised. I've received "google searched" legal documents. They try to use them to make us feel like they really did seek legal guidance or something. They can get creative, I tell ya!!

  • CA · Member since 2018 · 83 posts · 44 votes
    7y

    I wish I could move through the world with that kind of confidence. lol

  • Rental Property Investor · Leander, TX · Member since 2018 · 183 posts · 264 votes
    7y

    I copyrighted the letters "t" and "e". Both lower case and upper. Also the ampersand as well as the number 7. You are all infringing, I will send you a bill.

  • Real Estate Agent · Renton, WA · Member since 2017 · 204 posts · 151 votes
    7y

    @Asury Johnson that made my day lol.. the crazy things people who think they know something do....

  • Attorney · Akron, OH · Member since 2016 · 535 posts · 389 votes
    7y

    Sounds like some premium sovereign citizen level avoidance of responsibility hahaha.

  • Rental Property Investor · Boise/Portland · Member since 2017 · 709 posts · 742 votes
    7y

    I've heard some incredibly crazy things people do to avoid responsibility, but this is one of the most bizarre!  Good grief.  Please tell us that you're going to come up with some proportionately crazy response that deflats his stupidity.  

  • China, ME · Member since 2014 · 3k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    7y

    @Asury Johnson  This will tick him off: https://www.plagiarismtoday.com/2010/01/08/5-thing...

    It turns out that you cannot copyright your name.

  • Specialist · Strongsville, OH · Member since 2016 · 303 posts · 217 votes
    7y

    @Asury Johnson It’s tax time - write off the damages and send him a 1099 and let him explain it to the IRS

  • Nathan GesnerBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Broker · Cody, WY · Member since 2010 · 28k+ posts · 41k+ votes
    7y

    If I had a dollar for every time a tenant threatened to sue me, I wouldn't need to invest in real estate!

    The DIY Landlord Book4.7248 Reviews
  • Rental Property Investor · Clarksville, TN · Member since 2017 · 73 posts · 99 votes
    7y

    @James Galla Get this! He's in the Army. So much for sovereignty. HA!

  • Real Estate Broker · Hyde Park Tampa, FL · Member since 2019 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    7y

    Just wondering...how's that working for him?  Is he just playing the "greater fool" theory or can the rest of us sigh in relief that the greatest fool has been found.  He's a keeper loser...

  • Levi T.Pro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Tucson AZ / Nice FR / Washington DC · Member since 2016 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    7y

    That’s comical. I’d spend the money to drag him to court just to watch that train wreck unfold. You can’t generaly copyright your name. 

  • Attorney · Boston, MA · Member since 2018 · 109 posts · 63 votes
    7y

    I can't believe you have someone bothering you with this. Copyright law flatly does not protect someone's plain name: 

    "Words and short phrases, such as names, titles, and slogans, are uncopyrightable because they contain an insufficient amount of authorship. The Office will not register individual words or brief combinations of words, even if the word or short phrase is novel, distinctive, or lends itself to a play on words."

    https://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ33.pdf

    https://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-protect.htm...

  • Investor · Mattoon, IL · Member since 2013 · 32 posts · 2 votes
    7y

    @Asury Johnson. Just a little trick to help you out. If he is in the Army, then send correspondence not only to him but his Commanding Officer as well. When the CO finds out what he's been doing, they will be more than willing to intervene. When the JAG calls, simply refer them to your attorney.

  • Rental Property Investor · Clarksville, TN · Member since 2017 · 73 posts · 99 votes
    7y

    @Jason Cobb so, his CO actually called us on the day of move out inspection requesting to extend the tenant's move out walk through because his unit couldn't help him move the rest of his stuff out. My husband-being a SF team Sgt himself, let him have it and basically told him what a crappy leader he was for excusing his soldier's lack of planning and accountability. The the CO barely got a word out. So unfortunately, his superiors are no better :(

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