tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post2028993199098856248..comments2024-03-28T13:45:42.289+00:00Comments on The IPKat: Those scams again: signs of progressVerónica Rodríguez Arguijohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05763207846940036921noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-72675256921682593332011-08-03T18:51:37.269+01:002011-08-03T18:51:37.269+01:00Many, if not most, established IP firms presumably...Many, if not most, established IP firms presumably warn their clients about this kind of thing in their reporting letters, but it seems that’s not enough.<br /><br />Back in 2008, I posted a warning about an outfit targeting Canadian TM registrants that calls itself “Trademark Info Corp”. My blog was entitled “Trademark Info Corp - Don't Pay These People”.<br /><br />I provided a link to a sample communication from this outfit offering "publication of protected trade-marks on the internet" for a fee. This has been one of my most popular postings ever. <br /><br />See:<br />http://excesscopyright.blogspot.com/2008/12/trademark-info-corp-don’t-pay-these.html<br /><br />It concluded with a reminder about what P.T. Barnum is said to have said - "There's a sucker born every minute."<br /><br />I have received dozens of comments and thank you notes for having saved folks from throwing currently CDN $1615 for each registration away for absolutely no reason. They found my blog posting simply by searching for “Trademark Info Corp”. My posting is the top item in such a Google search.<br /><br />I suggest that firms and bloggers everywhere do something similar - so that when folks do a Google search on whoever has favoured them with one of these documents, they will easily find out if there is any reason whatsoever to pay. While it may be that not all of these various unsolicited communication will amount to “fraud” in a criminal sense, many, if not most, will be some kind of “scam” looking for payment for a completely unnecessary service. Alerting the public not to pay will help to discourage such unfortunate business practices. <br /><br />HKHoward Knopfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18321190334597129416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-17174947185267810662011-08-03T10:37:06.682+01:002011-08-03T10:37:06.682+01:00Sadly the jurisdictional reach of UK laws might be...Sadly the jurisdictional reach of UK laws might be a problem. <br /><br />I myself have recently been dragged halfway across the country to a meeting by a client, in which the only item on the agenda turned out to be my client asking whether these scam letters needed answering by them or me! <br /><br />So I have been thinking of remedies that are available throughout the wider EU, and indeed world. <br /><br />I have left comments on earlier stories bewailing the Registries' wholescale inabilty/refusal to pursue a Database Rights case against these people.<br /><br />But I have just had a further revelation. Any reproduction of a logo is surely a copyright infringment? If so, it can be pursued by the victim directly, without having to motivate the authorities to do anything.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com