Recent influx of intellectual property scam letters

Article  \  26 Jun 2019

Unfortunately, scam letters have always been an unwelcome reality in the world of intellectual property (IP). But we have recently noticed an increasing number of these letters being sent to our clients.

This scam correspondence may look like it comes from official channels, and usually asks for money to prevent your IP rights from lapsing. The topic of these letters can vary, but some of the more common letters are about payment of renewal or registration fees. These letters are usually not legitimate.

We thought this called for a timely reminder that these letters exist, and that you should be cautious when you receive unsolicited mail or invoices regarding your IP rights.

If you are unsure about the legitimacy of correspondence regarding your IP rights, you should:

  • never reply to the correspondence until you are sure it’s legitimate
  • never disclose any credit card details or other financial details
  • talk your usual contact at AJ Park for guidance.

If you are in any doubt at all, please don’t hesitate to ask us.