SCAM ALERT: Trademark Registration

One of our client’s recently received an invoice from the WTP Service for $1,380.00. The invoice was mailed a few months after we applied for federal registration of our client’s trade name with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”).

Although the invoice seemed like a real invoice, it was worthless. The invoice contained our client’s name, the mark that we applied for, the date of application, the USPTO reference number, and an image of the mark. All of this information would make it seem as though the invoice was real and had some value, but the information that was included on the invoice can be easily obtained and available for the public.

Kapadia & Naik believes that the WTP searches the records of the USPTO for new applications, then sends out an invoice to each applicant in the hopes that the applicant will think the invoice is real and pay it without questioning it.

By paying the WTP invoice, you get included on their database, but you receive no additional trademark protections or rights. It is not worth $1,380.00 to be included in their database.

Our recommendations are:

1.      Ignore the invoice should you receive it, and

2.      If you have a large accounting department, make them aware of this WTP invoice so that they do not pay it off automatically.

Also, check out this alert from U.S. Patent and Trademark Office about misleading notices and scams.

If you would like to discuss how we can help you register a trademark, please call Kapadia & Naik at 770-881-8081.