An Oklahoma therapist has prevailed in a trademark dispute against food delivery giant DoorDash after representing herself in a months-long legal battle before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Ashley Bryant, a therapist who has worked in the field for nearly two decades, challenged the company’s opposition to her trademark application for Leaddash, a platform designed to help therapists manage and grow their practices.
The dispute began after Bryant filed for a trademark connected to her website, Leaddash.io, which she launched in 2023. DoorDash argued that the name was too similar to its own brand and could create confusion.
Taking on a Billion-Dollar Company
Rather than abandon the application or hire legal counsel, Bryant chose to represent herself — a legal approach known as pro se representation.
“I had to educate myself on trademark rules and how to file motions and all of these things,” Bryant said, describing the extensive research required to handle the case.
Bryant said receiving the opposition from a major corporation was initially intimidating.
“Whenever you get something like that from this big billion-dollar company, it’s very jarring,” she said.
Legal Battle at the Trademark Office
The dispute was handled through administrative proceedings with the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, the body that resolves trademark conflicts at the USPTO.
According to Bryant, the case involved months of legal filings, research and responses submitted online rather than through traditional courtroom hearings.
“It definitely was a lot of late nights reading motions, filing motions, reading trademark rules,” she said.
DoorDash Withdraws Opposition
In February, the dispute concluded when DoorDash withdrew its opposition to the trademark.
The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board subsequently dismissed the opposition with prejudice, meaning the company cannot challenge Bryant’s trademark application again on the same grounds.
“The small business is usually the one to walk away,” Bryant said. “But since I didn’t walk away, I kept fighting. In the end, DoorDash decided they were going to walk away.”
Trademark Registration Pending
Bryant said she is now awaiting the final step in the process — official registration of the trademark by the USPTO.
Her platform aims to support therapists in building sustainable practices and navigating the business side of mental health services.
“We get to do what we set out to do initially, which is help therapists grow their practices,” Bryant said.
DoorDash did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The case highlights how small business owners can challenge trademark disputes through the administrative process, even when facing opposition from large corporations.
