News & Publications

News

11 May 2009

WARNING: Unsolicited Mail About Unofficial Registration Services

FRKelly wishes to warn its clients against responding to unsolicited mail from companies and individuals inviting applicants and owners of trade mark, patents and designs to pay a registration fee for entry in various official sounding, but entirely unofficial publications and "registers" in return for payment of a fee.

These parties tend to make their offers in the form of invoices, which are usually sent out after the publication of the official patent, trade mark or design application. You should be aware that these companies are not linked to any Government or Community Institution and there is no obligation to pay them. Any such payment will result only in the application being listed in a privately-held register which has no legal effect whatsoever.

We would advise that you take the following steps:

- If you receive a letter or invoice in relation to your intellectual property rights from anyone other than ourselves, please check carefully what is being offered to you and whether you can be sure that it comes from an official source (e.g. the OHIM, WIPO or the EPO).
- Be aware that these unsolicited notices and invoices often have what appear to be official-looking crests and emblems on their headed paper, yet they are not in any way connected with the official authorities who grant patent or trade mark protection.
- If you are unsure, you can find numerous examples of this type of correspondence on the websites of OHIM and WIPO.

If you have any doubts, please contact us before paying fees to third parties. We are always happy to advise whether such correspondence is genuine, at no charge to our clients.