Shut Down Xpress Mark: Hold Fake Trademark Companies Accountable.

 

In 2023, I hired Xpress Trademark (also known as Xpress Mark, operating under “Art n Art Creative Studios”) to help me protect my photography business, Clelia Jane Photography, After finding out some random person on Pinterest was using my photos and pretending to be me—without even asking.

 

Their site: 

https://xpressmark.com

 

Trust Pilot Reviews:

https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.xpressmark.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pinterest refused to remove the stolen content unless I could prove ownership through a copyright or trademark. Because my name is included in my photo watermarks and metadata, I mistakenly believed a trademark would be a blanket solution.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Why I Thought They Were Legit
I was contacted by someone named Sean Allen, who sent over what looked like official trademark documents and forms.   The process seemed professional at first — until it wasn’t.  Specifically, it was only "halfway complete" until the final payment showed up—something they conveniently forgot to mention in any of the contracts or signed documents.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
What Happened Next
➤Months after I paid the initial fee, they demanded an additional $6,000, saying the trademark wouldn’t go through without it.  Thankfully, I did not give them another cent. 
➤This “requirement” was never disclosed up front.
➤When I questioned them, they ghosted me.
➤Their website kept changing in the slightest of ways, and their contact info became unreliable.
➤I tried to reach them at multiple numbers, including 281-572-0469 and 1 (888) 300-6988, and even recorded calls where they pretend to know nothing about the situation.

 

 

I Took Every Step to Investigate

➤Reported them to the FTC 
➤Filed complaints with the BBB, Virginia AG hotline, and Texas state business offices
➤Contacted the Commissioner of Revenue in their claimed county
➤Discovered that their listed Texas location isn’t real
➤When asked, they now say their headquarters are in New York City
➤No one could confirm their legitimacy.
➤And because they wait over six months to hit you with the scam — just long enough for the USPTO serial number to appear — my credit card provider wouldn’t investigate due to the time delay.

 
Legal Help? Too Expensive.
➤I reached out to several law firms and private investigators.
➤The starting cost to pursue action was upwards of $5,000, often much more.
➤I even considered hiring a PI early on out of curiosity, and the quote went from $600 to $3,000.

 
What This Was Really About
All I wanted was to protect my work. A Pinterest user was impersonating me, and Pinterest refused to help without "absolute proof."
In their system, creators are guilty until proven innocent — defaulting to side with the impersonator unless we come armed with registered IP.
It’s backward and discouraging.

 
Final Thoughts
I truly believed I was hiring the “LegalZoom of trademarks.” But instead, I was exploited during a moment of stress and urgency.
This is a lesson I paid dearly for — in money, time, and mental strain.

I’m sharing this so other creatives, freelancers, and photographers don’t fall into the same trap.
Check out their growing list of complaints on Yelp.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

➤This is also a petition to demand accountability.
➤Too many fake “legal service” businesses exploit creators, artists, immigrants, and vulnerable people under the guise of legitimacy.
➤And sadly, when we reach out to law enforcement like the FBI or DOJ, we’re often told it’s “too small” for them to act.

But it’s not small to us.

This is important for basic goodwill and holding people accountable.

 
Please share this post or pass it along to anyone who might be vulnerable to scams like this — especially during times of stress. When you're overwhelmed or under pressure, your judgment isn't always at its sharpest. That's exactly when these companies strike and make their money.  

We deserve protection. We deserve accountability. And we deserve to live in a society where trying to protect yourself from scammers doesn’t end in being scammed even worse.

 

We are tired of predatory businesses.

From people selling flood-damaged cars, to trapping people in bogus contracts, to unpaid labor, to scammers cold-calling or running targeted ads designed to look legitimate — this exploitation is everywhere. They prey on the trusting, the vulnerable, and those just trying to protect themselves.

These practices are illegal, harmful, and yet somehow still operating in plain sight. Why haven’t they been shut down?

It’s not just one scam — it’s a ripple effect. It damages trust. It fuels anxiety. It makes the world harder for people trying to do things the right way.

We’re told to be responsible — to trademark our work, protect our businesses, follow the rules — but when scammers step in and take advantage of that effort, they face no consequences.

This may seem minor to some, but it’s not. Fraud is fraud. Theft is theft. These companies should be held accountable just like anyone else would be. 

You know what the real message is after all this time with zero consequences for them? It’s basically: “Hey, if you can get away with it, go for it! Rules are for suckers.” The fact that they’re still able to take on clients says it all.

 

Enough is enough.

We’re living in a time where if you make a mistake, they’ll prosecute you without hesitation — but if you’re the one who’s been wronged, your concerns are often dismissed, ignored, or labeled 'not reportable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Unless you have the money to pay someone to fight for you, it doesn’t matter how much proof you have. You can have all the facts, all the evidence — but without a title, a firm, or status behind your name, it’s often not enough.

Honestly, I never imagined this would be my life—filing complaints against a mysterious league of random shell companies, probably based in some obscure country, whose sole mission is to target crazy cat ladies, lonely old women, and anyone who dares to have too many houseplants and photos on Pinterest. But hey, here we are.  Just another day in paradise!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#ScamAlert #XpressMark #TrademarkScam #CreativeRights #StopScamCompanies #PhotographerRights #PinterestDMCA #AccountabilityNow