Scam Alert: Trade Mark Monitoring Companies Not Affiliated With USPTO
If you are a trademark applicant or registrant with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, be weary if a company contacts you offering services such as trademark monitoring or document filing. Such companies may appear to be affiliated with the USPTO and often request fees for their services. They usually send official looking communications that include personalized information like your trademark file number or the name of your mark. Such items are public information. Do not be confused as these companies are not government entities. They merely attempt to profit from public naivety. In a recent news article, the USPTO has warned that it does not provide such trademark services and is not affiliated with any such companies that do.
Further, if you have employed an attorney to file your trademark application, then you should not receive any correspondence from the USPTO. Your attorney acts as your agent in dealing with trademark matters. Therefore, all USPTO communications should go to your counsel.
If a company or organization that appears to be affiliated with the USPTO has contacted you or requested fees, you may file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.
If you have any questions regarding the trademark filing process, or are unsure if you have received a communication from the USPTO, contact an experienced trademark attorney.
