Social Handle Reclamation — RAXX Trademark

Status: research-only. This document does NOT constitute legal or tax advice. Before filing any platform complaint or taking any enforcement action, consult Matthew Crosby at Schwartz IP (schwartzip.com) — trademark prosecution and enforcement are within his stated scope. Last updated: 2026-04-30. Sources as of that date — verify freshness before acting.

TL;DR

Six handles squatted on raxx across TikTok, Reddit, Substack, Instagram, GitHub, and Bluesky. Two are fully dormant (Bluesky: 0 posts; GitHub: last updated June 2021), making them strong reclaim targets once RAXX registers. Reddit r/raxx is private with no visible posts — strong dormancy signal. Substack raxx.substack.com launched ~3 years ago with minimal evident activity. TikTok @raxx is described as a live profile with real content — the highest-friction reclaim. Instagram @raxx is behind a login wall; content status requires manual verification. No platform accepts a pending ITU application as sufficient to compel handle removal — all require a registered mark certificate at minimum. The constructive-use date secured by the 2026-04-22 filing does confer priority but cannot be enforced until registration issues.

Section 1 — Per-Platform Reclamation Table

Section 2 — Common-Law vs. Registered Trademark Thresholds

What a pending ITU application (§1(b)) gives you

The RAXX trademark application filed 2026-04-22 via Crosby establishes a constructive use date of 2026-04-22. This means: if the application results in registration, priority against third parties who began use after that date relates back to April 22, 2026. It does NOT confer enforceable rights today.

• Source: USPTO — Section 1(b) intent-to-use applications
• Source: USPTO — Section 1(b) timeline

Key implication: All six platform complaints require a registration number. A pending serial number is not a registration number. Crosby can confirm whether citing the serial number in a letter accompanying the complaint (to show the priority date is established) is standard practice — but the platform form itself will still require the reg number.

What common-law (unregistered) rights give you on platforms

Common-law trademark rights arise from actual use of a mark in commerce in a geographic territory. Raxx SaaS is pre-launch; there is likely some documented prior commercial use (domain registration, GitHub repo, app development artifacts, beta-user communications) that could establish a first-use date — but this needs to be assessed and documented by Crosby.

Platform acceptance of common-law claims:

Practical conclusion: All six reclamation actions are most viable after the RAXX registration issues. Until then, Crosby can draft cease-and-desist letters leveraging the pending application and common-law use evidence, but platform complaint forms are unlikely to process successfully without a reg number.

Section 3 — Bad-Faith Squatting Analysis

UDRP-style bad-faith standards (developed for domain names under ICANN) are informative even for social media handles, though no UDRP procedure applies to handles directly. Source: ICANN — About Cybersquatting. The three-pronged UDRP test is: (1) confusingly similar mark, (2) no legitimate interest, (3) bad-faith registration or use. Most platforms use analogous but less formal standards.

Per-squatter bad-faith analysis

TikTok @raxx - Content: Live profile with real content. The profile appears to be an active account — not a parked or dormant handle. Content is not finance/trading/SaaS. - Bad-faith indicators: Low — account is being actively used for non-RAXX purposes. - Registration date vs. RAXX first-use: Requires manual verification. When was @raxx created on TikTok? If created before Raxx SaaS had any public presence, the user has a defensible claim they're not targeting Raxx the company. - Consumer confusion risk: Moderate — if/when Raxx launches a TikTok presence, consumers searching @raxx land on unrelated content. But confusion as to source is arguable if the content is clearly non-trading/SaaS. - Strength: B — moderate. Active user with genuine non-RAXX content. Platform will require a registered mark, and the "confusion" narrative requires a story about class proximity. The argument is strongest after Raxx launches and has consumer-facing app activity.

Reddit r/raxx - Status: Private subreddit (403 response). No visible posts, no public description. - Bad-faith indicators: A private subreddit with zero posts that is not a recognized community is a strong dormancy/bad-faith signal under Reddit's own policy. - Registration date vs. RAXX first-use: Unknown — Reddit does not publish subreddit creation dates publicly. Requires: Reddit support response or web-archive research to establish creation date. - Strength: A — strong reclaim case. Dormant, private, no apparent legitimate use. Once RAXX registers, this is the easiest platform complaint.

Substack raxx.substack.com - Status: Personal newsletter described as "My personal Substack." Launched ~3 years ago (~2023). No subscribers shown, minimal evident content activity. - Bad-faith indicators: Substack explicitly states it does not act on subdomain complaints unless the subdomain appears to have been registered in bad faith for cybersquatting purposes. "My personal Substack" with no apparent commercial content likely fails the bad-faith test unless there is evidence of intentional brand targeting. - Substack's 30-day notice/remove process still applies if a registered TM complaint is filed — but Substack may find the bad-faith threshold unmet. - Strength: B — moderate. The bad-faith bar for subdomain reclamation is high on Substack. The most viable path may be direct outreach to the user (Crosby can draft) + formal complaint after registration, with the narrative that the subdomain is not in active commercial use.

Instagram @raxx - Status: Behind login wall. Content and activity level unknown. - Bad-faith indicators: Cannot assess without login access. Requires manual verification: Kristerpher should check whether the account is active, follower count, bio content, and date created. - Strength: Pending — cannot rank without content visibility. If dormant or parked: likely A. If active personal account: likely B or C.

GitHub raxx - Status: Individual user account. 2 public repos — one is a .github profile config, the other is a "FreeBitco.in Hack Script" (cryptocurrency faucet automation tool). Both repos created June–July 2021. Account created 2021-06-05. 0 followers, 0 following, no bio, no company, no active updates since July 2021. - Bad-faith indicators: Strong dormancy. The "Raxx" profile config repo suggests the user may simply go by the username "Raxx" (first letter capitalized). The crypto-faucet script is unrelated to trading platforms. - Registration date vs. RAXX first-use: Account created 2021-06-05. If Raxx SaaS first-use date predates June 2021, this strengthens the claim; if not, it complicates it. - Consumer confusion risk: Low in terms of software confusion (different product category), moderate for developer-facing brand confusion (Raxx as a developer platform arriving on GitHub finding its name occupied by a dormant account). - Strength: A — strong reclaim case. Dormant account (no activity since 2021), 0 followers, repo content unrelated to Raxx's product domain. GitHub's trademark policy specifically enables username transfer for registered mark holders when the account appears to confuse users. The name "Raxx" with a capital R suggests the user chose it as an identity, not to target the company — but dormancy + registered mark will likely be sufficient.

Bluesky @raxx.bsky.social - Status: API-confirmed: 0 posts, 0 followers, follows 3 accounts. No display name. No bio. Created 2024-06-11. This is a registration-only account, never used. - Bad-faith indicators: Extremely strong. Zero posts, zero followers, no display name — this is a classic dormant squatter account. - Registration date vs. RAXX first-use: Account created June 2024. If Raxx SaaS has any documented first use or public presence before June 2024, the bad-faith registration argument is compelling. - Bluesky's policy language does not require "registered" trademark — it requires "trademark description" + declarations. This is the one platform where a common-law or pending-application argument could be tested, though results are uncertain. - Strength: A — strongest reclaim case in the inventory. Dormant, post-2024, zero activity, no display name. Even without a registered mark, a well-documented complaint may succeed given Bluesky's more permissive policy language.

Section 4 — Strength Assessment Summary

Section 5 — Pre-Launch vs. Post-Launch Sequencing

Recommended sequence

Phase 1 — Now (2026-04-30 through registration): - Gather and preserve evidence of RAXX first-use date: earliest dated artifacts (GitHub repo creation, domain registration, beta user emails, Stripe/payment records, code commits with timestamps). - Document the creation dates of all six squatted handles where publicly available (Wayback Machine for TikTok/Instagram; GitHub API confirmed 2021-06-05; Bluesky API confirmed 2024-06-11; Reddit requires support ticket or Wayback). - Crosby can send a trademark-pending cease-and-desist letter to the Bluesky and GitHub accounts (dormant, low blowback risk) referencing the pending serial number and establishing documented notice — useful for later bad-faith arguments. - Crosby should advise on whether a C&D letter to the TikTok and Substack holders is strategically sound before registration (risk: puts them on notice to build a use record).

Phase 2 — Upon receipt of registration certificate (estimated 12–18 months from 2026-04-22 filing, assuming no office actions): - File formal trademark complaints on all six platforms simultaneously using the registration certificate. - Priority order for complaint filing: (1) Bluesky — easiest, may not even need the reg cert; (2) GitHub — dormant, strong case; (3) Reddit — dormant, strong case; (4) Instagram — verify content status first; (5) Substack — may require bad-faith finding; (6) TikTok — live account, expect pushback.

Phase 3 — If platform complaints fail (post-registration): - Escalate via Crosby's enforcement capability. For TikTok and Substack specifically, this may mean direct demand letter to the account holder. - If account holder cannot be identified, Crosby can advise on DMCA subpoena process (for platforms with identifiable user records) to obtain identity for service.

Note on timing: Do NOT wait until Raxx launches publicly to begin Phase 1 documentation. The gap between trademark filing and registration means squatters could build more use history in the interim. Early C&D letters (with Crosby's guidance) may trigger voluntary relinquishment, which is cheaper than formal platform complaints.

Section 6 — Top 3 Questions for Matthew Crosby

Q1 — Class coverage and platform complaint standing: The RAXX application is filed in Class 42 (software as a service, computer software design) and Class 9 (downloadable software). TikTok @raxx is a consumer-facing social media account. When filing the TikTok trademark complaint, does Class 42 alone give us sufficient standing to argue consumer confusion with a TikTok handle, or does the complaint need Class 9 (downloadable app) as the anchor class given TikTok's consumer-app context? Does either class give standing to pursue Reddit, Substack, or GitHub handles that are not directly in the finance/SaaS space?

Q2 — Pre-registration C&D strategy for dormant squatters: Given that three of the six handles (Bluesky, GitHub, Reddit) are clearly dormant, can you send a trademark-pending cease-and-desist letter now — before registration — citing the pending serial number, the constructive-use date, and documented RAXX first-use evidence? What is the risk that doing so prompts the holder to build a use record before registration issues, making a later complaint harder?

Q3 — Substack's bad-faith / cybersquatting bar: Substack's published policy explicitly states it will not act on subdomain (e.g., raxx.substack.com) complaints "unless the subdomain appears to have been registered in bad faith for cybersquatting purposes." The raxx.substack.com account describes itself as "My personal Substack" with minimal apparent commercial activity but has existed for ~3 years. Does this meet the bad-faith threshold under your reading? If not, what additional facts would we need to establish, and is the direct-outreach + demand-letter path more viable than a platform complaint here?

Section 7 — Cost Estimate

These are research-level estimates for preparation purposes. Kristerpher should confirm billing structure directly with Crosby.

Schwartz IP published pricing: None found. schwartzip.com does not list fees. Per firm description, Adam Schwartz handles trademark prosecution and enforcement.

Market benchmarks (sourced from public attorney-fee directories): - Trademark attorney hourly rate (NYC market): $400–$900/hr. Source: Counsel for Creators — Trademark Cost Guidebook 2024 - Enforcement C&D letter (flat-fee, IP specialist): $300–$750 per letter (market range; unsourced for Schwartz IP specifically — confirm with Crosby) - Platform trademark complaint preparation (per complaint): Likely 0.5–1.5 attorney hours at Schwartz IP NYC rates = $200–$1,350 per complaint. If done as a batch (all six platforms, same registration cert), total attorney time for complaint prep is likely 3–6 hours = $1,200–$5,400 total for all six complaints (NYC market rates). - If any complaint requires follow-up (e.g., counter-notice response, escalation letter to account holder): add $500–$2,000 per escalation.

Rough planning budget for all 6 platform complaints post-registration: $1,500–$6,000 total for complaint drafting and submission. TikTok and Substack may run higher given the active-account complexity.

Caveat: This estimate is unsourced for Schwartz IP specifically. Crosby may offer a flat-fee package for bundled platform complaints. Ask directly.

Section 8 — Jurisdiction Flags

• USPTO / Federal (trademark registration): RAXX application filed 2026-04-22. All reclamation rights flow from federal registration. No state registration gives platform-complaint standing.
• Platform jurisdiction: TikTok, Instagram (Meta), Reddit, Substack, GitHub are US-domiciled platforms. Complaints are governed by US trademark law + platform ToS. No UDRP procedure applies (UDRP is ICANN / domain-name specific).
• Bluesky / AT Protocol: Bluesky PBC is a US company. DID-based handles on the AT Protocol technically exist on a decentralized layer — but bsky.social is the centralized host and Bluesky PBC controls the bsky.social PDS. The complaint goes to Bluesky PBC, not the AT Protocol network at large. If the user migrates their DID to a third-party PDS, Bluesky's enforcement action may not follow.
• Common-law geographic scope: Common-law trademark rights are US-territory-wide for marks used in interstate commerce (Raxx SaaS would qualify as internet commerce). Source: FindLaw — Trademark Protection by Use or Registration

Section 9 — Timing / Deadlines

No near-term deadlines (within 30 days) were surfaced for the reclamation actions themselves. The RAXX search status check with Crosby (flagged as pending) is the immediate next action.

Questions for Attorney (Matthew Crosby — Schwartz IP)

1. Does RAXX Class 42 + Class 9 give us standing for all six platform complaints, or are there class-proximity arguments we need to pre-empt for the TikTok and Reddit handles specifically?
2. Can we send pre-registration C&D letters to the dormant squatters (Bluesky, GitHub, Reddit) now, and what are the strategic risks?
3. Does raxx.substack.com meet Substack's bad-faith / cybersquatting threshold, or is direct demand letter the better path?
4. What is your fee structure for bundled platform complaint preparation (all six platforms in one engagement)?
5. For the Instagram handle: should Kristerpher log in and document the account's content/activity before filing, to build the confusion narrative?

Sources

• USPTO — Section 1(b) Intent-to-Use applications
• USPTO — Section 1(b) timeline
• USPTO — Trademark enforcement: social media and e-commerce (video)
• TikTok — Trademark and counterfeiting policy
• TikTok — IPR Trademark Report Form
• Reddit Help — Trademark overview
• Reddit Help — Submit a request (IP complaints)
• Reddit Help — Intellectual Property Issues section
• Substack — How do I report trademark infringement?
• Instagram Help — Trademark overview
• Instagram Help — What if an account is using my registered trademark as its username?
• Instagram Help — Trademark Report Form
• Instagram Help — Can I report a username for infringing my trademark?
• GitHub Docs — GitHub Trademark Policy
• GitHub Docs — GitHub Username Policy
• GitHub Support — Trademark Policy complaint form
• Bluesky — Copyright and Intellectual Property Policy
• Bluesky — Trademark/IP complaint form
• Bluesky — 2025 Transparency Report
• Bluesky API — raxx.bsky.social profile (live API query, 2026-04-30)
• GitHub API — Raxx user profile (live API query, 2026-04-30)
• ICANN — About Cybersquatting (UDRP framework)
• FindLaw — Trademark Protection by Use or Registration
• Counsel for Creators — Trademark Cost Guidebook 2024
• Schwartz IP — About / Services
• PatentPC — How to Handle Trademark Infringement on Social Media Platforms
• DISCO — A Guide to Social Media Trademark Infringement

Before acting on any of this: consult Matthew Crosby, Schwartz IP (schwartzip.com, 888.762.4511), trademark prosecution and enforcement counsel. This document is preparation material for that conversation — not a substitute for legal judgment.