Increasing numbers of Community trademark holders are registering complaints about the bogus renewal notices for their trademarks that they are now receiving with ever greater frequency. For this reason, the European Union’s Trade Mark and Designs Registration Office, OHIM, is urging all trademark owners to check the sender’s name on any such notices very carefully. Where there is any doubt, holders are advised to contact OHIM direct or to engage the services of a trademark consultant.
Some of the trademark holders targeted in this way have paid large amounts of money after receiving letters and invoices which they think have been sent from OHIM or at the request of the authority.
Examples of some of the letters sent as part of this scam can be seen on the
OHIM website.