MVS Receives Excellence in Service Award from Iowa Legal AidJuly 20, 2009

On May 2, 2009, Iowa Legal Aid presented McKee, Voorhees & Sease with the Excellence in Service Award. This award is given by Iowa Legal Aid’s Board of Directors in recognition of outstanding service to low-income Iowans and to Iowa Legal Aid. The award was presented to MVS for its pro bono legal assistance to Iowa Legal Aid regarding the organization’s trademark rights to its long used IOWA LEGAL AID mark. The opportunity to assist came about when Iowa Legal Aid learned that a client attempting to contact Iowa Legal Aid was confused and misled into contacting an organization, Legal Aid Alternative, which advertised in various telephone books in Iowa and referred to itself on websites as ‘Iowa Legal Aid.’ MVS investigated the matter and the third party use of ‘Iowa Legal Aid’ has since stopped. MVS also assisted Iowa Legal Aid on a pro bono basis in filing a service mark application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to seek federal registration of its mark. The mark IOWA LEGAL AID is now a federally registered service mark. MVS is providing ongoing pro bono assistance to Iowa Legal Aid in protecting its trademark rights. Additionally, MVS provides guidance to Iowa Legal Aid on how best to communicate information about these issues to the legal community, other providers of service, and the public at large. MVS was honored to receive this award and to assist Iowa Legal Aid in ensuring that low-income Iowans are directed to the appropriate source for their legal services. For more information, visit www.ipmvs.com.