As everyone will tell ya, I’m a nice guy.
The nicest.
Almost too nice.
For instance, when I found out Symple Lending– at least one of whose founders has a very interesting background that the Court will soon hear all about– was using a logo that looks incredibly similar to my precious lion logo I reached out and tried to resolve it peacefully.
These guys are in Irvine, California. They know who we are.
All they had to do was say “yeah, my bad” and agree to stop using it and it would have been fine. No muss. No fuss. No fees. No pain.
But instead they give us the blowoff treatment. And even try to tell us to keep quiet about it. Here’s the actual response from their counsel:
Yeah. Fat chance.
Here’s the thing, we have poured our hearts and souls into this wonderful little lion logo. It has become a symbol of something incredibly trustworthy, pure and powerful.
It is synonymous not only with winning– but the right kind of winning.
And this is so because of the hard work and integrity every member of this firm has displayed in every professional effort since the day the firm was founded.
And sure we have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars– perhaps over a million now– promoting the lion logo.
It famously greets visitors at John Wayne Airport.
It has changed the course of sports history.
It adorns the Duck’s hockey rink.
It welcomes visitors to the Troutman Amin, LLP Newport Beach International Boat show.
Its helped to push a NHRA race car driver to his absolute peak.
It adorns the hundreds of hats and T-shirts we give away each year at events across the nation but PARTICULARLY here at the Irvine Global Village festival.
Let’s face it, it is IMPOSSIBLE to live in Irvine, California and not get a warm fuzzy wonderful feeling when you see that lion logo all over town.
It is a symbol of safety and trust.
Symple as that.
And they’re trying to steal that sense of safety and trust and trick consumers into thinking their products are safe and trustworthy and backed by Troutman Amin, LLP.
That’s my opinion at least, and I don’t see how anyone can possibly disagree with that.
And there’s no way I’m going to let the value of the lion logo and the Troutman brand be diminished by association with…
Well, you’ll have to wait until the filings to get the full flavor here.
But you will.
Everyone will.
In a federal courthouse.
And in press releases to follow.
And, of course, on TCPAWorld.
Like I said, I tried to be nice.
Didn’t have to be this way.