Misleading Trademark Notices
Trademark owners often receive official-looking mail or email that urges immediate action to “avoid penalties” or “keep your trademark active.” But most of these are just marketing scams.
Here’s what these scams might look like:
- A letter with “United States,” “Trademark,” or “Agency” in the name
- A company claiming your rights will be lost if you don’t use their services
- A solicitation demanding you file something urgently (for a fee)
Examples of deceptive tactics:
- A marketing firm insists your trademark isn’t protected until you register with them.
- A “law office” emails you promising fast-track registration—if you pay upfront and only communicate by email or text.
How to protect yourself:
- Check if the sender’s domain ends in @uspto.gov.
- Compare names and email addresses with your latest USPTO correspondence. Check out our blog post – How to Check Your Trademark Status
- Use the USPTO’s TSDR to verify deadlines and document requests.
- Read the fine print—most scam letters include a disclaimer that they’re not a government agency.
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