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Battle Brews Over Bookkeeper Certification Mark.

ROCKVILLE, February 17, 2009 -- The American Institute Of Professional Bookkeepers, Inc. filed a trademark infringement lawsuit today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland against a competing organization for using a registered certification mark.

Rockville, Maryland's American Institute Of Professional Bookkeepers, Inc. ("AIPB") filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against the National Association Of Certified Public Bookkeepers, LLC ("NACPB") for unauthorized use of the certification mark CERTIFIED BOOKKEEPER.

AIPB obtained a federal registration for the mark CERTIFIED BOOKKEEPER on May 5, 2000 to indicate completion of an educational program in the field of bookkeeping.

NACPB is accused of using the registered mark on its promotional and educational materials in addition to certificates of certification in bookkeeping.

The complaint states that AIPB has been in operating since 1987 and has been used the mark CERTIFIED BOOKKEEPER since 1998. The pleadings as filed do not contain an assertion that AIPB used the mark before NACPB did.

Certification from AIPB can obtained passing a two part exam after completing college-level classes or as a self-taught course. AIPB alleges in its complaint that its certification mark is damaged by NACPB offering a certification "easily obtained by taking an online course and test."

A permanent injunction is being sought in addition to damages against the Utah-based defendant.