The United States Department of Justice Gives Update on Fraudulent Solicitations

The United States Department of Justice recently announced that Viktors Suhorukovs, an individual responsible for one of the many schemes to defraud owners of U.S. trademark registrations, has pled guilty to mail fraud, been sentenced to federal prison and ordered to pay over $4.5 million in restitution.
 
Suhorukovs established and operated Patent and Trademark Office, LLC, and Patent and Trademark Bureau, LLC. These entities gave the false impression that they were, in fact, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), scamming more than 2,900 U.S. trademark registrants out of millions of dollars for inflated, and often fake, renewal fees. These schemes often falsely promise to take required maintenance actions on behalf of the registration owner, or they scam registrants into paying for services they do not need.
 
At IPC, we take all of your trademark concerns seriously, and we regularly help our clients avoid fraudulent solicitations. If you have any questions about communications you received regarding your trademark application or registration, or if you have any other trademark related questions, please feel free to visit us at Suite 1400, Poydras Street, New Orleans, Louisiana, or reach out to us at info@iplawconsulting.com or (504) 322-7166.