Trade Mark Scam Still in Operation

17 February 2012 Category News, SH&P News

In 2011, we published a news article about a scam where businesses were being asked to pay for trade mark, patent or copyright protection and renewals by bogus firms. We showed a copy of a letter received by one of our own clients and warned that many businesses were being targeted in this way.

Kent Business Receives Trade Mark Scam Letter

Now, at the start of 2012, there is evidence that these scams are still in operation and that businesses should still be extremely careful about taking such letters at face value. A report from kentnews.com describes how a local business has received a letter from the “European Institute for Economy and Commerce” which said it required a cash payment to protect the company’s recently registered trade mark in Europe. Luckily, the owner of the Spice Fusion business, Kiron Haque, took the time to check out the organisation and the invoice and discovered it was a scam. Now, he is writing to his local MPs to highlight the issue.

Always Check Trade Mark Invoices

Successful scams rely on two things: the believable and official-looking nature of the paperwork and the fact that businesses are often too busy to double check invoices. That these scams are still in operation shows that some businesses are paying up, because they are being deceived into worrying about losing their trade mark or patent protection. Here are some simple steps to avoid paying bogus fees:

• Contact your trade mark or patent attorney – if you have already dealt with a patent or trade mark firm, always refer this paperwork to your attorney. They will be able to tell you whether it is genuine or not.

• Ask a patent or trade mark attorney for advice – even if you are not already a client, responsible firms will take a look at your paperwork and advise you on what to do.

• Contact trading standards – if you receive a scam letter or email of any type, informing your local trading standards office can help them to warn and protect other businesses in your area.

Trade Mark Advice from SH&P

If you receive an unexpected letter or invoice regarding your patent or trade mark, we can help to ascertain whether it is from an official organisation. If you are considering protecting your business by applying for a patent, design right or trade mark, we can help you to get the best protection in the right places; and without paying more than you need to. In fact, your first hour’s consultation is free, so call us today to book an appointment.