Important Notice: Misleading Invoices & Unsolicited Payment Requests

The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has recently issued a fresh alert for customers to be aware of misleading invoices, which are unsolicited payment requests from organisations purporting to be an official intellectual property office or connected with official government departments.

The unsolicited payment requests typically take the form of an invoice for the provision of services for patents, trade marks and designs, for example, the inclusion of bibliographic data on an unofficial register or the payment of official fees (e.g. renewal fees) at significantly inflated prices. The services being offered may never be provided and/or are typically of zero value. It is, therefore, important to remain vigilant to avoid becoming a victim of fraud.

If you receive such a payment request:

1. Do not make a payment, do not respond to the request, or click on any e-mail hyperlinks
2. Report the matter to the attorney managing your IP portfolio
3. Report the matter to the UK Intellectual Property Office at misleadinginvoices@ipo.gov.uk

If you believe you have been a victim of such a scam, report the matter to the police by contacting  Action Fraud or calling 0300 123 2040.

To notice a misleading invoice, the IPO has released examples of misleading invoices received and reported by customers.

Please read the full IPO report here: IPO issues fresh warning to beware of misleading invoices - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

If you need to discuss this matter with Stratagem, please contact us at mail@stratagemipm.co.uk or contact your attorney directly.