A warning from the UK Intellectual Property Office about the Patent and Trademark Organisation

The UK Intellectual Property Office (UK IPO) is currently reaching out to trade mark owners to warn them of a private company seeking substantial payment for the renewal of their trade mark.

The Patent and Trademark Organisation is currently purporting itself to trade mark owners as a legitimate body for trade mark renewal. This is not the case and trade mark owners are not required to make any requested payments. Renewal of UK trade marks will be notified through the UK IPO only, either to the trade mark owner directly or to their recorded representative.

The UK IPO is aware of the Patent and Trademark Organisation and is writing to trade mark owners to warn them of the scam and highlight the need to seek confirmation of any reminders or invoices received. Trade mark owners should  therefore stay alert and vigilant to correspondence and payment requests they have received relating to their trade marks, to ensure that they do not make inflated payments to an unofficial company.

If you would like any further information on this issue or have received correspondence from the UK Intellectual Property Office or the Patent and Trademark Organisation and are unsure as to its meaning, implications and legitimacy please contact Blake Morgan’s Intellectual Property Team.