Public Statement on the Terreform Trademark and Defamatory Misrepresentation
Terreform ONE is the sole legitimate and legally recognized owner of the TERREFORM® trademark and name. The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) formally denied Michael Sorkin’s attempts to claim or register this mark on multiple occasions, issuing a final refusal on December 15, 2010, under Section 2(d) of the Trademark Act (15 U.S.C. §1052(d)) due to likelihood of confusion with Terreform ONE’s existing rights.
Contrary to Sorkin’s published claims and those repeated by his associates, there is no verifiable legal or archival record—in New York State corporate filings, nonprofit registries, or trademark databases—showing that Michael Sorkin or any affiliated entity lawfully established or used the name Terreform or Terreform Inc. in 2005. The only nonprofit entity publicly linked to Sorkin during that period was CommonSpace, not Terreform.
Despite this, Sorkin and a small circle of collaborators conducted a sustained campaign of defamation and misrepresentation directed against Mitchell Joachim, Maria Aiolova, and the founding team of Terreform ONE. Through digital postings, conferences, and communications, they sought to misappropriate the organization’s identity, confuse the public, and damage the founders’ professional reputations.
Such conduct is both false and unlawful. Any individual, organization, or media outlet that continues to use, host, or distribute the TERREFORM name, logo, or associated content without authorization will be pursued through all available legal means. Terreform ONE will not hesitate to seek injunctive relief, damages, and recovery of attorney’s fees under applicable U.S. trademark and defamation laws.
Terreform ONE stands by its documented history, legal status, and founding mission: to advance transparent, ethical, and verifiable design research for ecological and urban futures.
Legal Reference:
USPTO Final Office Action, December 15, 2010 — Trademark Act §2(d)
Registered Trademark Holder: Terreform ONE, Inc.
Founders: Mitchell Joachim, and Maria Aiolova.
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Disclaimer Related to Micheal Sorkin:
FIRST POSTED MARCH 31, 2009
Since 2008 a professional critic, Sorkin, has distributed inaccurate and damaging claims about our organization Terreform ONE. The US Patent and Trademark Office attorney has rejected Michael Sorkin's claims to use our trademark in three consecutive cases and appeals. The USPTO attorney on Dec. 15, 2010 has rendered a FINAL decision and rejected Sorkin. Sorkin cannot legally use our mark and anyone who does without legal authorization is confusing and deceiving the public. see: USTPO Office Action
UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE (USPTO)
"In the first Office action the examining attorney refused registration of applican's (Sorkin) proposed mark based upon a finding of a likelihood of confusion under Trademark Act Section 2(d) with respect to U.S. Registration No. 3752902."
"In its response applicant (Sorkin) submits arguments against the examining attorney's Trademark Act Section 2(d) likelihood of confusion refusal with respect to U.S. Registration No. 3752902. The examining attorney has carefully considered applicant's (Sorkin) arguments and does not find them persuasive. Accordingly, the examining attorney continues and maintains said refusal and now makes it FINAL."
"Trademark Act Section 2(d) bars registration of an applied-for mark that so resembles a registered mark that it is likely that a potential consumer would be confused or mistaken or deceived as to the source of the goods and/or services of the applicant and registrant."
We lawfully own the trademark to the name (view our USPTO registration). Any unauthorized use of our Terreform mark or similar derivation will deceive and confuse the public.
Terreform ONE is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization: Mitchell Joachim, Maria Aiolova, Melanie Fessel, Dan O'Connor, Oliver Medvedik
https://www.terreform.org/s/Terreform_1_Trademark.pdf
For further information contact:
White & Case LLP
1155 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
T: + 1 212 819 8307
