The letters contain the official registration date (name of the owner, filing number and date, logo) in order to increase the chances of fooling the trademark owner. To increase their chances of fooling the trademark owners names and logos that are surprisingly similar to those of the official authorities are used, such as: “European Patent and Trademark Register” or “European Trademark Publication”.
Following Belgium, the Netherlands will now introduce a procedure that allows such false acquisition to be dealt with. The initiative has been approved unanimously by parliament. Until it becomes a final law our advice remains: do not pay and never respond to any suspicious emails or invoices. The rates that are being charged are often a multitude of the normal costs and the amount cannot be reclaimed.
