Our clients frequently receive payment requests from purported offices or service providers regarding their intellectual property rights. These letters are often designed to look like official government correspondence, giving the impression that an immediate response is required. Symbols such as a "Federal Eagle," a European "Blue with Stars" sign, or similar emblems are often used in these letters to falsely convey the legitimacy of an official authority.
The letter usually includes a request to pay fees for a registration, publication, or renewal. These request letters are highly dubious, if not outright criminal! The bank account details are often located abroad.
Never pay such supposed fees. In most cases, the money is irretrievably lost. If in doubt, contact our law firm. If you have appointed WMW as your representative, all payments from offices will be handled through our firm. Only in very rare cases will you be contacted directly by offices, and never for payments if you have appointed a representative. The German Patent and Trademark Office, the European Patent Office, and WIPO each maintain lists of companies that have been reported for such misleading payment requests.