Beware of Foreign Solicitations Asking to Use Your Information
Written February 25, 2019
The US Patent and Trademark Office on February 22, 2019, issued a warning asking US attorneys to stay vigilant as many are receiving emails from people in China and perhaps elsewhere, offering to pay to use their information in trademark filings.
These solicitations appear to be an attempt to circumvent the USPTO’s proposal to change federal trademark law to require foreign-domiciled trademark applicants, registrants, and parties to Trademark Trial and Appeal Board proceedings to use an attorney who is licensed to practice law in the United States.
“Agreeing to such arrangements would likely be aiding unauthorized practice of law and violating federal rules, including the USPTO Rules of Professional Conduct,” the notice said. The USPTO asks that if you receive such a solicitation, to please forward it to TMFeedback@uspto.gov.