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ARTICLE · 11 NOVEMBER 2021

Beware Of Scam Trademark Notifications

Cowan, Liebowitz & Latman, PC
Cowan, Liebowitz & Latman, PC
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A trademark owner should exercise caution to avoid paying a scam artist who sends a trademark notice requiring payment of a substantial "fee."

United StatesIntellectual Property
William Borchard
William Borchard

A trademark owner should exercise caution to avoid paying a scam artist who sends a trademark notice requiring payment of a substantial "fee." 

The fraudulent solicitation may look like an official communication from a government agency or from a company with an official-looking name. It probably has information about a trademark application or registration you own, and it may look like it is a numbered communication that is being tracked.

The solicitation may indicate that the payment is for

  • trademark monitoring services,
  • "registration" with a private registry,
  • recordation with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, or
  • renewal of the trademark registration.

However, such a notice most likely is a scam unless it is from

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