WARNING – Be careful of non-official entities offering Trademark Services.

Each stage of the trademark process that requires advertisement of your application in the journal happens automatically, never will there be a government charge associated with the publication of the details in the Official Journal of Trademarks.

Owners and applicants of trademarks are warned against the activities of certain private bodies, which, for a fee, offer to publish their marks, doing so in a manner and terms that suggest there is a necessary fee for the publishing of your registration. This is not the case and is entirely unnecessary.

The Australian office has published a list of bodies known to them for issuing communication that may be perceived as official communication when it’s not, they are:

Ø      TMP, Trade Mark Publishers, Austria but with a street address in Sydney

Ø      Commercial Centre for Industry and Trade (based in Switzerland)

Ø      Company for Economic Publications Ltd, (based in Austria)

Ø      Company for Publications and Information Anstalt (based in Liechtenstein)

Ø      Edition The Marks KFT (based in Hungary)

Ø      European Institute for Economy and Commerce – EIEC (based in Belgium)

Ø      Globus Edition SL (based in Spain)

Ø      INFOCOM (based in Switzerland)

Ø      Institute of Commerce, Trade and Commerce (based in Switzerland)

Ø      IT & TAG (based in Switzerland)

Ø      TM-Collection (based in Hungary)

Ø      ZDR-Datenregister GmbH (based in Germany)

Our office has recently received a large number of enquiries about the first listed entity – TMP – it is suggested that if you receive communication that displays a behaviour you are not pleased with that you make a complaint to the ACCC on 1300 302 502 or www.accc.gov.au.

Further, we have received a number of enquiries about an Australian, local provider who is reported to have accepted payment for trademark related services and then not fulfilled the agreement or provided the services paid for.

Our office is listed with the government department, IP Australia, as a professional resource on their website. Below are some key questions to ask yourself tips to ensuring that you are dealing with a legitimate entity:

•                     Is the business or company you are dealing with registered? Check the ASIC database – www.asic.gov.au

•                     Do they have a website? Be cautious of overseas traders for Australian trademark matters

•                     Do they have a physical address where you could visit if required?

•                     Do you know who is operating the business? (You can obtain details of business owners/directors also via the ASIC website)

•                     Are you able to contact them easily? Be cautious of everchanging or disconnected phone numbers or always having to leave voice messages.

If you feel that you have been victim to one of these ‘scams’ – firstly, visit the ACCC website to lodge your complaint if eligible. Secondly, we would be pleased to offer any information or assistance that we can – contact us on 1300 365 715 or via email – info@australiantrademarks.com.au.

We would also be happy to receive your stories to publish on our website and/or in future newsletters and articles to serve as a warning to others against these behaviours. Please email through to info@australiantrademarks.com.au if you are happy for us to use your story in this manner.