Be Wary of Misleading Trademark Solicitations

As soon as your trademark application is accepted, your mailing address becomes publicly available on the USPTO website. This makes trademark applicants and registrants potential targets of misleading trademark solicitations.

Many have paid unscrupulous private companies, mistakenly thinking they were paying fees to their trademark attorney or the USPTO. Don’t be fooled by company names that sound like government agencies or some sort of international trademark registry. (There is no such thing!) 

When you receive these offers and notices, make sure to read them carefully. If you have an attorney, contact him or her about the solicitation and get advice. 

Here are a few samples of trademark solicitations:

For more information about these misleading offers and notices, check out these articles from the USPTO:

• Caution: misleading notices
• Fraudulent Solicitations to Trademark Owners