The Ongoing Battle Against Trademark Scammers

Trademark scammers mine PTO data and send unsolicited notices to trademark owners. The scammers use formidable-sounding names and issue official-looking invoices. These fraudulent companies promise to conduct trademark searches, watch for confusingly similar marks, handle renewal applications and help with other activities. Their costs are often exorbitant and the service substandard compared to that of licensed trademark attorneys. To its credit, the PTO is educating the public and trademark owners about these scams, but is it doing enough?  Read more in this op-ed piece first published online by Corporate Counsel.