We have recently become aware of yet another scam that involves sending an unsolicited letter to a Canadian trade-mark owner and offering to register our client’s Canadian trade-mark at the “International Register of Trade-marks” upon provision of a substantial cheque or bank draft. In this instance, the sender of the letter was GAIA almanac Ltd., P.O. Box 8501, Papa, Hungary.
Once again, we cannot stress enough: Do not heed any communication referencing your trade-mark application or registration that does not come directly from either your Agent of Record, or if you are self-represented, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office directly. Trade-marks law is jurisdictional in nature, and as such there is no such thing as an “International Register of Trade-marks” or an international trade-mark.
If in fact you do receive any correspondence from any party that is not your trade-mark agent, please make sure to notify your agent immediately.
Further, if you have any questions about any suspicious communications referencing your trade-mark, please feel free to contact us at MBM as we would be happy to be of assistance.
By Adam Tracey