WARNING

— Patent Registry Scams —

Misleading demands for fees are a recurring problem in the patent and trademark world. These demands typically take the form of official-looking letters that falsely suggest a connection with the European Patent Office, and that solicit fees for some supposed service such as "registration" of a patent application.

AIPLA has recently been made aware of one such letter that enumerated specific details about a published European patent application, and asked that EUR 1529.30 be remitted by check or wire transfer within 8 days to a Florida address in the name of FIPTR (Federated Institute for Patent and Trademark Registry). The described service to be provided was "registration of the patent application." The Florida address may be the result of legal actions brought in Europe in an attempt to stop such activities.

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