Nobody will believe you - aside from those of us actually involved that is.Verbal
confession you may have are risky.
I do not trust them - I have been asked if I
will speak to officials over the phone - I will not.
If they cannot put the truth
on record - then it is not worth listening to.
My trust in authority has been abused
this way in the past - I will not be caught out again.
In reverse situation, a
UK Government department spun a lie out of something I said to them - you will not
believe me if I told you about it.
Best to always get everything down in writing.
I
have written evidence from USPTO and the UK Patent Office that they have know solution
to trademark problems for years.
I believe, indeed it is logical, that they must
have known answer from the start.
You have to look at the interests being served,
by not using it.