UNSCRUPULOUS self-styled “registrars” are currently targeting legitimate trade mark owners. Businesses and individuals across the UK and the EU have been receiving letters requesting payment of funds to register trade marks or renew registrations. Official-looking documents promise wide international protection at a cost of around Euro1,500.

Beware Worthless Offers

In fact, the so-called protection is entirely worthless. The European governing body for Community Trade Marks, The Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM), has issued warnings not to heed the unsolicited offers, which have no legal merit or commercial value.

Letters have been received from a variety of organisations, including:

	FIPTR Service - Federated Institute for Patent & Trademark Registry, of Florida
	WIG- Wirtschaftszentrale Für Industrie und Gewerbe AG, of Zurich
	Institut économique pour le commerce, l'artisant, l'industrie, of Zug
	Trademark Publisher GMBH, of Vienna
	CPI - Company for Publications and Information Anstalt (Société pour publications et information SARL), of Vaduz
	EIEC - European Institute for economy and Commerce, of Brussels
	WIG - Wirtschaftszentrale für Industrie und Gewerbe AG, of Zürich

These organisations “have nothing to do with the OHIM's Community Trade Marks Register or any of its official publications”*

UK trade mark owners have also been subject to unsolicited approaches from other organisations, which are similarly unauthorised and have no connection with the UK Intellectual Property Office.

Seek Professional Advice

If you are suspicious of any unsolicited material that refers to trade mark protection, please do not hesitate to contact the OHIM or Silverman Sherliker LLP for advice.

Trade marks are valuable assets, and require care and attention to ensure that they are properly protected. Silverman Sherliker LLP’s Intellectual Property experts are always happy to advise on the best forms of protection and commercial exploitation. If you would like to discuss your trade mark, copyright, design or patent matters, please speak to your usual adviser at Silverman Sherliker LLP, or any of the contacts below.