Red Rhino recently received a official-looking document from the Intellectual Property Agency Ltd (The Broadgate Tower, 20 Primrose Street, London, EC2A 2EW) reminding us that our trademark for the “Red Rhino” name will shortly expire and requesting a payment of £1280.
Considering that a ten-year trademark renewal through the official UK Intellectual Property Office costs only £200, this ‘reminder’ letter from IPAL obviously raised some suspicion. A Google search shows that we’re not the first company to receive this scam letter, so if you receive one too, we suggest you file it in the shredder.
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I am taking this company’ dealings up with the IPO, the OFT and the Business Secretary Vince Cable MP, as “passing off”!
These people are still doing it, sadly – just received one myself. (As it was a patent I’d sold, I just started forwarding the apparent “problem” to the new owner… but just caught on in time.)
Good on you, s.pollock-hill.
I too received one today. One of many from other scams this year.
We also received one today, both my boss and I suspected it to be a scam, on Googling the name: thanks this confirmed our suspicions.
I am bombarded with these, receiving around a dozen a week (we have a large trade mark portfolio). Apart from filing in the shredder, if they come with 1st Class prepaid envelopes, I would also recommend sending the envelope back, either empty or with something very heavy in them. Let them pay!
I also thought it was suspect mail and google’d it. Will now send to shredder. Like the idea of sending something heavy back in the envelope – air mail from Australia!