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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Warning: Watch out for Trademark Scams

Maple Lawn, MD | August 2, 2012 – The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) has been issuing warnings regarding the recent increase in fraudulent solicitations concerning trademark registrations. Trademark registrants and applicants should be on the lookout for invoices that resemble official government communications. When a company applies to register its trademark or service mark with the USPTO, the applicant’s contact information is published as a public record. Then, many businesses with quasi-official official names (such as the World Database of Trademarks and Patents) will send the applicant or registrant notices suggesting that the company must list its mark on a private or foreign registry of intellectual property rights. These notices claim that the applicant or registrant must pay hundreds or thousands of dollars to maintain its intellectual property rights.

Recently, there has been a substantial increase in these deceptive solicitations. Be sure to read trademark-related communications carefully. All official USPTO correspondence relating to an application will be sent to the correspondent of record, which in many cases is not the applicant or registrant.

Click here to view the USPTO’s statement regarding these communications.

If you have any questions regarding the content of this alert, or any other intellectual property matter, please contact Jonathan R. Wachs at 301.575.0302 or by e-mail at jwachs@offitkurman.com.

ABOUT OFFIT KURMAN

Offit Kurman, celebrating its 25th anniversary, is one of the fastest-growing, full-service law firms in the mid-Atlantic region. With offices serving clients Washington DC metropolitan area, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Virginia and Wilmington, we are well positioned to meet the legal needs of dynamic businesses and the people who own and operate them. At Offit Kurman, we are our clients’ most trusted legal advisors, the professionals who help them to maximize and protect their business value and individual wealth. In every interaction, we consistently maintain our clients’ trust and confidence by remaining focused on their objectives to help them achieve their goals.

CONTACT
Steve Kozak
Director of Marketing
Offit Kurman
8171 Maple Lawn Boulevard, Suite 200
Maple Lawn, MD 20759
443.738.1573
skozak@offitkurman.com

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