We received a letter from TMP this week. The web address on the letter was http://www.trademarkpublisher.info which immediately set off alarm bells for me. Particularly when I searched and could not find any trademarks on their site and the only physical address listed was in Vienna.
I also called IP Australia to confirm whether the letter was legitimate. It is worth checking!

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Ayacus Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 3:30 pm

We got one too today as well. A client of mine called me what this was. After a few minutes of investigation I found that this is just a small company (probably an individual) who has a website and they want to charge 650 Euros to put some text about us on there. I think it is pretty expensive for such service… )
Their tactic is called social engineering. They trying to make you believe that they have something to do with the real Trademark company, so they put their crap into some nice, official package. It just makes me mad how many people got ripped off because they have little nowladge about law and internet stuff, and got misleaded this way…

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When we first registered our trademark we received several of these letters for publication in ‘registers’ – one of them was from TMP. The correspondence was sent generally from Eastern-Euro countries (Hungary, Romania), and the “invoices” were for 1000 or 2000 euros. Needless to say there were shredder fodder before the envelope hit the desk…

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I also got one of these letters last week, and it certainly looks authentic enough.
So, after verifying it was a scam, and then lodging a complaint – I tore the invoice into a hundred pieces (give or take a few) and returned it to them in the addressed envelope they’d included for me.
No stamp – but I figure they’ll get the message!

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Oh yes. Last year I registered a TM in Aus, UK and US (madrid protocol), that triggered a dozen or more letters from all around the world each looking more official than the one before it.

My retired father also got them for his hobby domain and luckily asked me before paying them. That’s who they get, the busy and the IT/business inexperienced.

The payback – a very few come with a reply paid envelope load it up with something heavyish and drop it in the post (without anything leading to you). Yeah its minor and childish but it makes me smile that they have to pay the post.

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I also got the same letter ! except i threw mine away ! because i knew it was just scam companies.

tore it in half and in the bin ! who would seriously pay over $500 let alone over $1000 to register their trademark with a publisher ? its ridiculous.

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I have too recently received a few of these letters relating to some IP trademarks renewals. There are hybrids of these that always come in from overseas and I always direct them to recycling.

What I found interesting with these latest ones is the paperwork is from a Sydney based address, most of the admin office staff thought it was a legitimate bill to pay for IP registration and placed it in the accounts payable tray for approval.

I am sure many offices have fallen foul of this well crafted document. The quality of the paper is good, and the use of blue borders is impressive, and the document is well presented.

Scammers are getting smarter and smarter, it amazes me at the effort they go to to disguise things.

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Adam Walker Reply:
August 6th, 2009 at 9:50 am

Hi Mark – If you still have a copy and have a scanner in the office (not a scammer), we’d love to see it. I’m from Anthill and will make sure that we post the document. What say you?

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Mark F Reply:
August 14th, 2009 at 3:24 pm

Hi Adam

SO far all have met their recycling fate. If any more come in you will certainly hear from me!

Cheers

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Dan Reply:
August 15th, 2009 at 12:49 pm

Hi Adam,
Just checked my PO Box and i have two witht eh syd address if you are interested. looks like they were posted in england though. I will be at work monday and can scan for you (minus my details of course. let me know.
Cheers,
Dan.

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James Tuckerman Reply:
August 15th, 2009 at 1:13 pm

Thanks Dan. We got one from a another helpful reader on Friday. Hope to have it posted on Monday. Thanks so much though.

PS. It’s generous people like you that make Anthill more than just another business website! Cheers again.

Yah I got a letter like that also about a week ago…looked at IP Australia and scamwatch websites and it was true that it’s a bunco job. Always do checking before acting on things like that

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I got two for different trademarks today. My fingers are starting to itch in anticipation of the ceremonial shredding!

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As a patent attorney with many trade mark clients, I have received numerous enquiries as to whether these invoices from Trademark Publisher are legitimate. Of course, they are not and my colleagues and I are doing what we can to ensure that people are aware of this scam. IP Australia have also placed an alert on their website.
It seems that very large numbers of these scam invoices have been sent to trade mark owners in Australia. I am concerned that many unsuspecting businesses (particularly those that don’t have professional representation) are not aware that whatever ‘service’ (?) Trademark Publisher is providing, it does not result in any legal rights or commercial benefit. Some trade mark owners are also likely to think that they need to pay the invoice in order to preserve their existing rights. This is not the case.
A relative of mine runs a ‘micro’ business and she received 3 of these scam invoices relating to her 3 Australian trade mark registrations. She was about to pay the requested $4350 but fortunately gave me a call before doing so. (She owes me a drink).
If you have friends or colleagues who own trade mark registrations, do them a favour and let them know of this scam so they don’t innocently blow a significant sum of money. There are many better ways to waste your hard earned cash!
Phil

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Hello All. We got one as well, I had to look twice at the Invoice before decidimg to shred same, it was a good one, it would have fooled the unwary or inexperienced.
Bill

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I have received one of these scam letters as well. Perhaps we could arrange for all folks who have received them to bring their letters for a community bonfire?

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[...] And it’s not just Canadian trademark holders. This sort of thing goes on around the world. Here’s a similar warning from Australia. [...]