Unofficial firms have been sending invoices to people whose IP applications have recently been published, offering to ‘register’ – ie, print – the information in journals, in return for fees.
The Patent Office advises:
‘You should be aware that these companies are not linked to any patent or trade mark office. Furthermore, as the services they are offering are not official services, there is no obligation to pay.
The only Offices which are able to provide legal protection for patents, designs and trade marks in the UK are the UK Patent Office itself, the European Patent Office, the Community Trade Mark Office (more formally the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs)), and the World Intellectual Property Organisation.
If you receive a letter or invoice, check carefully to see exactly what services it is offering you, and whether it comes from an official source such as those listed above.’
In the event of confusion, recipients are asked to refer suspect mail to their trademark or patent attorneys – or to email their queries to UK Patent Office specialists, Ceri Carter (patents), or Geoff Miller (trademarks). Both can be reached at UnofficialRegistrationServices@patent.gov.uk
View an Office for Harmonisation example of a suspect invoice here.
