Scams in intellectual property

Intellectual property is a very complex area and covers a vast range of diverse subjects. [ [http://www.patent.gov.uk/protect/protect-advice.htm UK Patent Office advice] ] As a result, there are opportunities for unscrupulous individuals and organisations to take advantage of those wishing to secure protection for their IP.

Registration services

Registration services are organisations or individuals that contact IP applicants or owners and request payment for an apparently official registration of their IP.

Applicants for and owners of patents, trademarks and industrial design rights have all received letters from such registration services and different IP offices and organisations around the world have issued warnings in connection with the offered services.

The Registration services are able to target applicants directly because patent, trademark and design applications are published a set time after filing or upon grant. This information is freely available to the public and normally includes a name and address for the applicant. Registration services use this information to send requests for payment to applicants shortly after publication.

Published warnings for different forms of IP

* American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) - [http://www.aipla.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Organization&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=9989 Patent Registry Scams]
* Australian Patent Office - [http://www.ipaustralia.gov.au/factsheets/unsolicited_ip.shtml Warning! Unsolicited IP Services]
* Belgian Patent Office - Warning to inventors about fraudulent registration services, in nl icon [http://mineco.fgov.be/intellectual_property/patents/news/warning_nl.htm] or fr icon [http://mineco.fgov.be/intellectual_property/patents/news/warning_fr.htm] (with link to a [http://mineco.fgov.be/intellectual_property/patents/news/decision_Brussel_14012005.pdf Decision of January 14, 2005 of a Belgian Appeal Court] (pdf) - in French)
*European Community trademarks - [http://oami.europa.eu/EN/office/adhoc/warning2.htm Warning]
*European Community designs - [http://oami.europa.eu/EN/office/adhoc/warning2.htm Warning]
*European patent applications - [http://www.epo.org/patents/law/legal-texts/InformationEPO/archiveinfo/29062006.html Information from the European Patent Office]
*French Patent Office - [http://www.inpi.fr/front/content/ART_480_405.php?PHPSESSID=db3123edfb1b017454222d27e4fe979b Warning] fr icon
*International Trademark Association (INTA) - [http://www.inta.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1401&Itemid=126&getcontent=1 Warning: Beware Unsolicited Trademark Services]
*International Bureau of the WIPO (international patent applications) - [http://www.wipo.int/pct/en/warning/pct_warning.htm Warning]
*International trademarks - [http://www.wipo.int/madrid/en/ Warning]
*Swiss Patent Office - [http://www.ige.ch/E/marke/m150.shtm Warning]
*United Kingdom patent applications - [http://www.patent.gov.uk/patent/p-notice-unsolicited.htm Warning: Unsolicited mail about unofficial registration services]

PCT registration services

Registration services who are known to target applicants of international patent applications include:
*IOIP - Organization for Intellectual PropertyCite web|url=http://www.wipo.int/pct/en/warning/pct_warning.htm
title=WARNING: Requests for Payment of Fees
publisher=WIPO
accessdate=2007-10-23]
*ODM - Register of International Patents
*ODM - Office Data Management
*IOPTS - International Organization for Patent & Trademark Service
*FIPTR - Federated Institute for Patent and Trademark Registry Inc
*CPTD - Central Patent & Trademark Database
*CCIT - Commercial Center for Industrie and Trade
*CPD - Central Patent Database
*Register of International Patents
*Register of International Patent Bulletin/Registre des données bulletin europeén des brevetes
*Institut of Commerce for Industry, Trade, Commerce/Wirtschaftsinstitut für Industrie, Handel, Handwerk AG
*Central Data-Register of International Patents

Domain slamming

Domain slamming is a form of scam in which an internet service provider (ISP) or domain name registrar attempts to trick customers of different companies into switching from their own ISP/registrar to the scamming ISP/registrar, under the pretense that the customer is simply renewing their subscription to their old ISP/registrar. [ [http://www.discountdomainsuk.com/articles/5/876/0/4 Want To Get Ripped Off By Domain Name Fraudsters? ] ] [http://www.theregister.co.uk/2002/05/14/verisign_hit_with_slamming_lawsuit/]

Invention promotion firms

Some invention promotion firms have been found to engage in improper and deceptive practices. [ [http://www.ftc.gov/opa/1997/07/mouse.htm FTC/STATE "PROJECT MOUSETRAP" SNARES INVENTION PROMOTION INDUSTRY, US Federal Trade Commission, Press Release July 1997] ]

Signs of an unscrupulous invention promotion firm include: [ [http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/invnalrt.shtm Consumer Alert: Spotting Sweet-Sounding Promises of Fraudulent Invention Promotion Firms] ] [ [http://ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/products/pro21.shtm FTC Facts for Consumers: Invention Promotion Firms] ]
*Exaggerated claims about the market potential of the invention
*Refusal to offer advice in writing
*Request for money immediately and upfront.

References

ee also

*Patent
*Trademark
*Industrial design rights
*Copyright commandeering

External links

* [http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/com/iip/complaints.htm USPTO public forum] for invention promoters/promotion firm complaints and responses
* [http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/services/invent.htm Federal Trade Commission] Consumer advice concerning Invention Promotion Firms
* [http://www.InventorEd.org/caution/ InventorEd Caution Section] Intelligence about invention promotion firms. Names of companies and employees.