I received the offer below related to a trademark registration for ERIK PELTON®. The offer is misleading in many ways:
- It is not from the government, despite the “Bureau” name.
- It is misleading and false: The registration is not going to expire on the “Renewal Date” indicated.
- It is not accurate — The “Renewal Date” is not Sept. 3, 2018. Rather, a Section 8 declaration of continued use is due by September 3, 2019 (plus there is a 6 month grace period after that).
- It is not clear what services are provided.
As a result of their use of the name “Patent & Trademark Office,” this solicitation is striking. On top of that, the services offered and the costs indicated are questionable.
Their “fee” of $925 is not cheap. And it is not clear what services they provide? Is this a Section 8 renewal, or 8 and 15? Do they provided legal advice about which renewal is appropriate, and whether the mark is in use or in use for all the goods and services in the registration? Are they attorneys and members of the bar? Do they review specimens of use to opine on their acceptability. Do they inform clients about the USPTO’s post-registration audit program? Why doesn’t their website provide any information about the people who perform the services, and their experience and qualifications?
If this was a legitimate service at a reasonable value, why would they mask who they are, and why would they choose the clearly deceptive name of “Patent & Trademark Office”? Why would their address have moved at least 4 times in recent years, most recently to 1500 Market Street, 12th Floor, East Tower in Philadelphia, PA, which appears to be a Regus office space?!
Perhaps the USPTO should be working with Regus to help stop scammers from using their address services?
I suggest that anyone affected by this issue write to the USPTO, the FTC, and the Post Office and urge them to move more quickly and more forcibly to bring an end to these scams.
- U.S. Postal Inspection Service: https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/contactUs/filecomplaint.aspx
- USPTO Office of the Solicitor: http://www.uspto.gov/about-us/organizational-offices/office-general-counsel/office-solicitor
- Federal Trade Commission complaints: https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/
For more information, see:
We received the same solicitation via mail , I was skeptical that it was a scam so googled the company’s and found your BLOG. Thank you for saving our company $1650.
same here. 04.06.2020.. Thanks for posting the blog.. It is very helpful.
We received 3 of these today (3/14/19) totaling $4,305.00. The address they use now is 633 W 5th St, 26th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90071. What a scam!
Thanks for including the address. Another REGUS office space location; shameful that they continue to accept money from this scam! https://www.regus.com/locations/united-states/california/los-angeles/california-los-angeles-us-bank-tower
we received 2 forms today, same basic format, from the “Patent and Trademark Office”, the text boxes were rearranged but same fine print disclaimer that this is a private service company. address is 2200 Pennsylvania Ave, 4th floor, Washington DC. Yes, another Regus property.
Thanks for proving the address; they are always moving around. Shameful that Regus continues to accept money from this scam!
We received the 4th form this year already, and they were from 3 different addresses:
230 Park Avenue, 3rd Floor West, Helmsley Building, New York
1500 Market Street, 12th Floor, East Tower, Philadephia
2220 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. 4th Floor East Washington, DC
They are all Regus’
Thank you so much for this useful blog.
Thank you for the informative article. Very helpful.
We also received a couple of days ago 1 form, $890.00 with address:
Business Mail Processor
650 East Palisade Avenue STE 2 PMB 296
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS NJ 07632-9803
TEL: 833 532 0444
Thank you so much for sharing! I was wondering if it’s scam and so lucky I found your information here to be sure on my thoughts.
I also received this letter, from the Patent and Trademark Office at 2200 Pensylvania ave, N.W, 4th floor east
DC, 20037
They want $925 from me! Total scammers!
Thanks for sharing such informative knowledge.
Thanks so much for sharing the info. I received one that looks exactly like yours. I was concerned I would lose my Trademark. So glad to realize it was a sham.
Thanks again.
my pleasure!
Today we received also here in Switzerland one of this Letters. It looks like they are still active. The address which they used for us was: Patent & Trademark Bureau 2058 County Line Road #113 Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006
The interesting part that is that they wrote about a patent, on which one my co-workers was involved but the rights of this patent has our customer (big global player company). Perhaps they also have complete outdated information of ownerships. Because https://ppubs.uspto.gov/pubwebapp/ has the right informations.
Similar story in the UK. Also using the address “Patent & Trademark Bureau 2058 County Line Road #113 Huntingdon Valley, PA 1900”.
They are still going strong. Our office received the letter from Patent & Trademark Office stating our renewal for our logo is April 17, 2024. I was hesitant, thank you for this post for solidifying my hesitancy. The address they used is 19125 Northcreek Parkway, Suite 120, Bothell, WA 98011. They are not BBB accredited.