<i>"After the process of registering in the US was over and our lawyer tried to extend the trademark to the rest of the world, he realised that somebody had registered it already in Italy. We (Tom, David, David, and I) were shocked and demanded explanations. Gianluca reassured us that this was done to protect our collective investment."</i><p>I'm surprised it took them two years to figure this out in the first place, but once it was uncovered then that is the point where you say, "Great, you protected it, now transfer it immediately."<p>Unfortunately, when it wasn't turned over that means this person is not your friend, and they do not have your, or the organization's best interests at heart. So legal action starts right then and there. I know it is hard to discover someone you work with is (or has been) planning to take advantage of you all along, but history has shown that once its clear that is what they are (or were) thinking, there is no "reconciliation" there is only winning and losing.