Dodgy IP register caught by court
A Florida-based company that issued misleading invoices to patent and trade mark applicants was recently found to have violated the state’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act.
This serves as a timely reminder that there are several organisations that issue official-looking documents to owners of recently granted (or due for renewal) patents and trade marks. The documents usually look like invoices and solicit payment for a service of no value at all.
Further information on this problem, including a list of organisations engaged in the practice, is here.