Melissa Dangond Crews
International Trademark Attorney
International Trademark Attorney
Melissa Dangond Crews is an international trademark registration and technology attorney at Allen Dyer Doppelt + Gilchrist, P.A., where she helps businesses clear, register, protect and defend their brands in the United States, Latin America and Europe. A Miami native and Colombian-American, she practices fluently in Spanish and English, and is a trusted counselor to Florida companies expanding abroad and to Latin American and Spanish brands entering the U.S. market.
Since joining the firm in 2020, Melissa has built a high-volume trademark prosecution practice. More than 430 U.S. trademark applications and registrations currently list her as attorney of record, she has filed nearly 360 applications since 2021, and she represents brand owners in Trademark Trial and Appeal Board proceedings against some of the most recognized brands in the country. She also lectures at the University of Florida Levin College of Law on trademark and trade dress practice.
Melissa Dangond Crews at a glance
International Trademark Attorney, Allen Dyer Doppelt + Gilchrist — Coral Gables and Orlando
Featured Brand Portfolios
BFL Metal Products Co. — the FUME brand. Melissa manages the U.S. trademark portfolio for BFL Metal Products, the manufacturer behind FUME, one of the most widely recognized brands in the disposable vape category. She has secured 19 U.S. registrations across the brand family — FUME, FUME VAPES, FUME EXTRA, FUME ULTRA, FUME INFINITY, FUME INFINITY PLUS, FUME VAPES ULTRA, FUME VAPES EXTRA, FUME BY QRJOY and QRJOY — primarily in Class 34, with additional FUME registrations in Class 32. She also polices the register for the client: a conflicting third-party FUME application was abandoned after an inter partes proceeding at the TTAB in 2025. Her registrations support the firm’s broader federal enforcement program for the FUME brand against counterfeiters and infringers.
Poshi, LLC — the POSHI line of healthy snacks. For Florida-based Poshi, maker of the POSHI line of healthy, ready-to-eat snacks, Melissa built and protects the brand portfolio: registrations for AIR CHEESE, STUFF’D and EASY CHEF, pending applications for POSHI covering food products and processing services, and the maintenance of related legacy marks such as DIPIN. Before the TTAB, she brought a cancellation proceeding (No. 92086588) against Prevar Limited’s POSH registration for fresh produce, alleging priority and likelihood of confusion with the POSHI marks, and defended Prevar’s counterclaim seeking to cancel Poshi’s own registrations. The case settled in April 2026 on terms favorable to the client: Prevar narrowed its POSH registration from all fresh fruits and vegetables to fresh apples and pears, withdrew its counterclaim with prejudice, and Poshi’s registrations remain in force.
Spotlight: Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza
Melissa is the trademark attorney for Fernando Mendoza, the Miami native and Indiana University quarterback who won the 2025 Heisman Trophy and was selected first overall in the 2026 NFL Draft by the Las Vegas Raiders.
Her strategy was to lock down his brand before and during the transition to the NFL. Working through his holding company, Mendoza IP Holdings, LLC, she filed a coordinated set of applications for his name, surname, jersey number and signature phrases — FERNANDO MENDOZA, MENDOZA, FERNANDO, MENDOZA 15, HE15MENDOZA and FLIPPIN’ — across apparel, merchandising and entertainment services, the core classes for an athlete’s name, image and likeness program. Careful drafting of the identifications and early filing moved the applications quickly through examination: his marks were approved by the USPTO just five months after he was drafted No. 1 overall, giving him a strong, enforceable brand to license from the start of his professional career.
Practice Overview
Industry focus
Melissa’s clients span the industries that drive Florida’s economy and its trade with Latin America and Europe:
| Industry | Typical brand issues |
|---|---|
| Famous Latin American brands | Protecting well-known Latin American consumer, food, beverage and hospitality brands entering the U.S.; Madrid and § 44 filings; oppositions against copycat U.S. applications |
| Cosmetics, beauty and personal care | Skincare, makeup, fragrance and haircare lines; packaging trade dress; marketplace counterfeits and gray-market goods |
| Swimwear, resort wear and fashion | Swimwear, beachwear and resort apparel labels; collaborations and licensing; social-commerce enforcement |
| Medical, healthcare and medical devices | Clinic, practice and device brands; regulatory-sensitive naming; pharmaceutical and international medical marks |
| Dietary supplements, nutraceuticals and wellness products | Supplement, vitamin and functional-food brands; Amazon Brand Registry; counterfeit and false-advertising issues |
| Food, beverage and consumer packaged goods | Product lines from Spanish and Latin American producers; wine, beer and juice brands; candy and snack marks |
| Restaurants and hospitality | Restaurant groups, hotels, resorts and travel brands |
| Cigars and tobacco | Premium cigar brands and accessories |
| Education and training | Schools, training institutes and certification programs |
| Children’s toys and educational products | Toy, game and learning-product brands; packaging and character marks; marketplace counterfeits and knockoffs |
| Emerging technology, blockchain and fintech | Software, apps and AI brands; blockchain, cryptocurrency and digital-asset platforms; payments and financial-technology services; e-commerce and online marketplaces |
| Government and public entities | Florida municipalities, school boards and state agencies |
| Sports, entertainment and NIL | Athlete name, image and likeness licensing; entertainment brands |
| Nonprofits and community organizations | Charity, event and foundation marks |
Clearance and registration
Melissa handles trademark clearance, preparation, filing, prosecution and maintenance before the USPTO, and coordinates international filings through WIPO’s Madrid System and with associates before the EUIPO, UKIPO, CIPO, Mexico’s IMPI and IP offices across Latin America. Her bilingual practice makes her a natural bridge for Spanish-speaking clients navigating the U.S. system and for U.S. companies protecting brands abroad.
Contested matters
She represents clients in Trademark Trial and Appeal Board oppositions and cancellations, ICANN domain name disputes, and federal trademark, false advertising, unfair competition, dilution and cybersquatting litigation under the Lanham Act, alongside Florida FDUTPA claims.
Technology, privacy and Florida law
Melissa also advises on domain names, technology licensing, e-commerce advertising, AI, privacy and publicity rights, including Florida’s Digital Bill of Rights, deepfake and AI-generated political content statutes, and the Fictitious Name Act.
USPTO Filing Record
USPTO public records show the scale and reach of Melissa’s prosecution practice. As of October 21, 2026, she is attorney of record on 432 U.S. trademark applications and registrations owned by 216 different clients.
359 applications since 2021, peaking at 91 in 2024
USPTO applications listing Melissa Dangond as attorney of record, by filing year and by owner’s home
By filing year
By owner’s home (2021–2026)
Source: USPTO Trademark Search, retrieved October 21, 2026.
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Applications filed, 2021 to October 2026 | 359 — 28 in 2021, 28 in 2022, 83 in 2023, 91 in 2024, 48 in 2025 and 81 so far in 2026 |
| Live registrations | 249 |
| Registrations issued | 40 in 2024, 86 in 2025 and 47 so far in 2026 |
| Applications pending | 105 |
| Filing basis | Use in commerce § 1(a): 197 · Intent to use § 1(b): 203 · Madrid Protocol § 66(a): 31 · Foreign registration or priority § 44: 14 |
| Most frequent classes | 35 (business and retail services), 41 (education and entertainment), 42 and 9 (technology), 25 (apparel), 34 (tobacco and smoking products), 43 (restaurants and hotels) |
Foreign-owned filings since 2021
About one in four of Melissa’s new U.S. filings is for a foreign brand owner. Since 2021 she has handled 88 U.S. applications for 46 foreign clients in 13 countries:
| Country | Applications | Representative clients and sectors |
|---|---|---|
| Spain | 30 | Pharmaceutical (Ability Pharmaceuticals), healthcare (Dr. Healthcare España), travel retail (Áreas), beauty (The Skin Lounge) and biotech (Antartigen) brands |
| China | 21 | Consumer products manufacturer BFL Metal Products, owner of the FUME brand |
| Mexico | 10 | The Xcaret resort and theme-park group |
| Chile | 9 | Airline JetSMART, salmon producer AquaChile and winery Viña Ventisquero |
| Canada | 6 | AI company Matador.IA |
| Venezuela | 4 | Medical supplies maker Gasas Esterilizadas and individual brand owners |
| Panama, Nicaragua | 3 | Central American brewers, including INCECA (TOÑA) and Compañía Cervecera de Nicaragua |
| Netherlands, Brazil, France, Malta, Angola | 5 | Fintech (Twinco Capital) and other international brands |
How she gets foreign brands into the U.S.: 31 of these filings came through the Madrid Protocol under § 66(a), 7 were based on a home-country registration or priority claim under § 44, and the rest were filed directly with the USPTO on use or intent-to-use bases. 62 have already registered, and 12 are pending.
At home, her client roster ranges from Florida restaurant groups, cigar makers and technology companies to public entities, including a Florida city, a county school board and a state transportation authority.
Trademark Trial and Appeal Board
Melissa is counsel of record in 21 TTAB matters filed since 2023, including oppositions, cancellations and extensions of time to oppose. She brings and defends claims under the core grounds of TTAB practice: priority and likelihood of confusion under Section 2(d), dilution under Section 43(c), false suggestion of a connection under Section 2(a), abandonment and nonuse, and fraud on the USPTO.
Key results
| Matter | Client and role | Claims at issue | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Viña Ventisquero Limitada v. Ink Grade Estate Vineyard LLC, Opp. No. 91296314 (2025) | Chilean winery, opposer, relying on its registered VENTISQUERO OBLIQUA mark | Priority and likelihood of confusion, § 2(d), against the OBLIQUE application for wine | Win. Applicant defaulted; on April 17, 2025, the Board entered judgment, sustained the opposition and refused registration |
| One Mighty Mama, Inc. v. Fontanos, Canc. No. 92087359 (2025) | Florida company, petitioner, seeking to register ONE MIGHTY MAMA | Abandonment and nonuse of the registered MIGHTY MAMA & CO. mark for bags and clothing | Win. Default judgment on May 19, 2025; petition granted, the registration was cancelled by Commissioner’s order, and part of the filing fee was refunded |
| Fantasy Files, LLC v. Life Concepts, Inc. d/b/a Quest Inc., Canc. No. 92085156 (2024–2025) | Orlando nonprofit, registrant, defending its BLOSSOM registration for cosmetics | Petitioner claimed priority and likelihood of confusion, §§ 14(1) and 2(d), based on its own BLOSSOM marks | Win for the client. After Melissa filed the answer and affirmative defenses, the petitioner withdrew under a settlement; the Board denied the petition with prejudice, preserving the client’s registration |
| BFL Metal Products Co. v. Lucas (FUME), Ext. No. 98692807 (2025) | Chinese manufacturer and FUME brand owner, potential opposer | Conflicting third-party FUME application | Win. The conflicting application was abandoned after the inter partes proceeding |
| Ferrara Candy Co. extensions against Iconic Candy, LLC (2024) | Florida candy company, applicant, for KAZOOZLES, HOT DOLLARS, RED RASPBERRY DOLLARS and BUNNY BASKET EGGS | Ferrara, represented by a national firm, obtained extensions of time to oppose all four applications | Favorable. The extensions expired without any opposition being filed, and all four applications proceeded |
| Poshi, LLC v. Prevar Limited, Canc. No. 92086588 (2024–2026) | Florida snack brand, petitioner, also defending a counterclaim against its own registrations | §§ 14(1) and 2(d) claim against Prevar’s POSH registration; Prevar counterclaimed against POSHI registrations | Favorable settlement. Prevar narrowed its POSH registration from all fresh fruits and vegetables to fresh apples and pears, the counterclaim was withdrawn with prejudice, and the client’s registrations remain in force |
| Runway to Hope, Inc. v. Be The Difference Foundation, Canc. No. 92088059 (2025) | Charity, petitioner | §§ 14(1) and 2(d) against the RUNWAY FOR HOPE registration, based on the client’s prior use since 2010 | Favorable. Resolved after settlement negotiations; the client’s RUNWAY TO HOPE application proceeded to registration |
Active and notable matters
- Angels Baseball LP v. L.A. Media Management, LLC, Opp. Nos. 91303138 and 91310518 (2025–present) — Defending the LATIN ANGELS applications against the Major League Baseball club, which alleges likelihood of confusion (§ 2(d)), dilution by blurring (§ 43(c)) and false suggestion of a connection (§ 2(a)) based on more than two dozen ANGELS registrations. Melissa filed the answer in October 2026 after settlement-related suspensions.
- Microsoft Corp. v. Solution Box, LLC, Opp. No. 91286769 (2023–2025) — Represented the applicant of the Q-BOX mark against Microsoft’s opposition, which alleged likelihood of confusion and dilution of the XBOX marks; the matter ended in a negotiated resolution.
- Onward Watch Company, LLC v. Duranko, Canc. No. 92087884 (2025) — Filed a petition alleging fraud on the USPTO under § 14(3) and In re Bose against the PREVALA registration; the client’s PREVAIL marks are registered.
- Counsel to Central American brewer INCECA (TOÑA) in a TTAB matter with Anheuser-Busch, and to The GB Foods (Spain) and other European and Latin American clients evaluating oppositions against conflicting U.S. applications.
Federal Trademark and Lanham Act Litigation
Melissa has appeared as counsel in federal trademark, counterfeiting, unfair competition and related IP litigation in Florida and beyond.
Results
| Case | Client and claims | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Inseco, Inc. v. The Paver Sealer Store, LLC (M.D. Fla., No. 8:23-cv-01996) | Florida paver-sealer manufacturer, plaintiff, asserting federal trademark counterfeiting and infringement against a reseller and its principal | Win. After moving for a preliminary injunction, the client obtained a final default judgment of $300,000 and a permanent injunction against both defendants (Sept. 2024), followed by an order on attorney’s fees (Aug. 2025) |
| GR Opco, LLC d/b/a E11EVEN v. Eleven IP Holdings, LLC (S.D. Fla., No. 1:22-cv-24119) | E11EVEN Miami nightclub and hotel venture, plaintiff, in a multi-party trademark ownership and infringement dispute | Motions won. Defeated the defendants’ motion to dismiss (July 2023) and won dismissal of the defendants’ Florida trademark infringement counterclaim (Nov. 2023); the case settled among all parties, with the court retaining jurisdiction to enforce the settlement (Apr. 2025) |
| Modulus Global Inc. v. Quintzy FZE LLC (D. Ariz., No. 2:22-cv-01457) | Financial-technology software company, plaintiff, asserting Lanham Act trademark infringement and trade secret misappropriation | Win. Judgment for the client and an attorney’s fee award of $193,953.73 |
| Peach.com, LLC v. Peachly, LLC (S.D. Fla., No. 1:21-cv-20636) | Online brand owner, plaintiff, asserting Lanham Act infringement and unfair competition | Favorable settlement. Defeated the defendants’ attempt to stop the case at the threshold by securing jurisdictional discovery on their personal-jurisdiction motion; the case then settled in full and was dismissed with prejudice (Oct. 2021) |
| Grupo Experiencias Xcaret, S.A.P.I. de C.V. v. Vacation Tours, Inc. (S.D. Fla., No. 1:22-cv-21455) | Mexican resort and theme-park group, plaintiff, asserting Lanham Act infringement and false designation of origin against an unauthorized tour seller | Favorable settlement. Pressed the claims through motion-to-dismiss proceedings to the defendants’ answer; the case settled and was closed in March 2023 |
| Evers v. The Sports Mall, LLC (M.D. Fla., No. 8:24-cv-01341) | Website developer, defendant, in a copyright infringement suit | Favorable resolution. Moved to dismiss, forcing the plaintiff to amend; the case settled at mediation and was dismissed with prejudice (Jan. 2025) |
Other matters
- Crystal Lagoons U.S. Corp. v. Oasis Amenities, LLC (M.D. Fla.) — Trade secret litigation under the Defend Trade Secrets Act.
- Correct Craft IP Holdings, LLC v. Doe (M.D. Fla.) — Enforcement for the boat manufacturer’s IP holding company.
- ICANN domain name arbitrations and online marketplace enforcement for brand owners.
Credentials
Education
- J.D., cum laude — University of Florida Levin College of Law, 2020; Certificate in Intellectual Property; Certificate in Environmental, Land Use and Real Estate Law; Journal of Technology Law & Policy; study abroad in Costa Rica
- B.S., Biology, cum laude — Boston College, 2017; minor in Environmental Studies; study abroad at Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Admissions
- The Florida Bar, 2020
- U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Middle Districts of Florida
Recognition
- Florida Super Lawyers, Rising Star in Intellectual Property (2024–present)
- The Best Lawyers in America, Ones to Watch in Intellectual Property Law and Litigation – Intellectual Property (2024–present)
Professional organizations
- Asociación Interamericana de la Propiedad Intelectual (ASIPI) — U.S. Delegate (2021–present)
- International Trademark Association (INTA) — Member (2021–present)
- Association of Intellectual Property Firms (AIPF) — Member (2021–present)
- The Florida Bar — Intellectual Property Law Committee; Business Law Section; Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law Section
- Dade County Bar Association — Member (2021–present)
- Intellectual Property Law Association of Florida — Member
Chambers of commerce and community
- Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce — Board of Trustees (2023–present)
- Colombian American Chamber of Commerce — Member (2021–present)
- Spain-US Chamber of Commerce — Member (2021–present)
- Latino Law School Association — mentor (law school)
Teaching and speaking
Melissa is an active lecturer at the University of Florida Levin College of Law, her alma mater, where she teaches law students the practice of trademark and trade dress law — from clearance and USPTO prosecution to TTAB proceedings and enforcement.
Languages
English and Spanish (fluent)
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