The has been a rise in fraudulent schemes targeting trademark applicants and owners, which is not surprising given the record number of applications being submitted to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). An alert drafted by two of our Fox Rothschild colleagues explains the most common schemes and how trademark owners can protect themselves.

For example, our colleagues recommend being cautious in examining correspondence that was not sent by your attorney of record, that contains typographical and grammatical errors, that deviates from the standard trademark maintenance timeline, or that exhibits any false urgency (e.g. the requirement to pay a fee within 24-48 hours). Additionally, it may be worth reading the USPTO’s presentation addressing how to avoid trademark scams and what to do if you get fooled.