This is an independent informational site. It is not affiliated with Sofie Van der Stee, Sofie Biondo, or the entity Biondo Studios.

Public Identity Disclosure: Sofie Van der Stee (aka 'Sofie Biondo') and the Biondo Studio Trademark.

This page serves as an informational resource for clients and partners to distinguish between the original Biondo Studio (est. 2004) and a more recent entity named Biondo Studios (est. 2020) operated by Sofie Van der Stee (aka 'Sofie Biondo').

Timeline

Feb 2004

Biondo Studio established by Denise Ciecierega-Biondo. The business name was founded on an actual legal name and built a brand reputation for 16 years with clients all over the world.

February 25, 2015

Biondo Studio LLC formation.

July 2020

Ms. Van der Stee announces "Biondo Studios" (16 years after Biondo Studio launch).

2020-ish

Instagram post stating that Ms. Van der Stee gave herself the nickname of "Biondo."

Aug 30, 2021

When a PayPal payment was stuck in transit because a client used the pluralized version of Biondo Studio, Denise Ciecierega-Biondo realized that another business offering the same services was operating under a nearly identical name. Official USPTO trademark application was then filed for "Biondo Studio."

Sept 9, 2021

Formal Cease and Desist sent to Ms. Van der Stee after filing the application was approved and getting a serial number for the case.

Sept 13, 2021

Ms. Van der Stee registers Benelux trademark for "Biondo Studios" 4 days later, in direct response to the Cease and Desist notice. This action is documented evidence of bad-faith intent to circumvent the original prior rights.

Being the "first to file" in a specific region does not grant immunity when the filing was executed with full knowledge of a prior existing global brand. A designer targeting the same global digital market, cannot claim they were unaware of an (at that time) 17-year-old firm with the exact same name and a global client list.

September 30, 2021

Ms. Van der Stee refusal to comply with the Cease and Desist email, after filing her trademark for the imitation Biondo Studios in the Benelux region.

December 20, 2022

Biondo Studio trademark officially registered after over a year of thorough USPTO examination process.

2022 - 2026

Ms. Van der Stee's results mixed up with official Biondo Studio results and portfolio work in the search engines. The two brands differentiated by only using a single "S" intends to cause entanglement, as in any common cybersquatting or typosquatting situation.

2022–2026

Continued instances of client confusion and accidental redirection of business on social media, following Ms. Van der Stee's business instead of the original Biondo Studio account.

February 20, 2026

Client referrals being redirected to wrong site because of the nearly identical domain names of the original Biondo Studio and Ms. Van der Stee's portfolio.

Report an Incident

If you have recently interacted with "Biondo Studios" or Sofie Van Der Stee under the impression that you were engaging with the original Biondo Studio (est. 2004), please let us know. Your feedback helps us maintain brand integrity and protect the design community.

I authorize Biondo Studio, LLC to use this statement as anonymous evidence in ongoing brand protection efforts.

Disclaimer: This website is an independent informational resource and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Sofie Van der Stee or Biondo Studios. All dates and facts are based on public records and documented business history.