Unsolicited emails - IP scams - Warning

Warning: Beware of Scams Implying Association with the Intellectual Property Office of Ireland or requests for payment of fees.

Unfortunately, it has come to the attention of the Intellectual Property Office of Ireland that applicants and proprietors are receiving requests for payment of fees from unofficial sources.  These entities claim that your patent or trade mark has been accepted for registration and that payment of a sizeable fee is due.  Such requests usually take the form of an official looking invoice or letter which is sent out after publication of the application and can, therefore, contain details of a genuine application.  Other entities claim that your patent or trade mark will be renewed on receipt of payment of a specified amount. 

Whatever services might be offered in such invitations, they bear no connection to the Intellectual Property Office of Ireland and are not issued by the Intellectual Property Office of Ireland.  They may be an attempt to extract money on false pretenses.

There are an increasing number of promotion companies in operation at the moment.  While many of these companies are genuine others prey on new inventors who are unfamiliar with the process of patenting and protection of Intellectual Property.  Some firms will try and extract large fees from individuals with false promises of valuable patents and great success in the marketplace.  Please be diligent in researching these companies before accepting any offers of assistance from them.

Should you be approached with such an offer of registration or a request for payment of a fee, please verify the authenticity of the request before acting.  You can contact the Intellectual Property Office of Ireland, who will be happy to advise on the genuineness or otherwise of any requests.

The only offices which have authority to provide legal protection for patents, designs and trade marks in Ireland are the Intellectual Property Office of Ireland, the European Patent Office and European Union Intellectual Property Office (formally known as the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market).

Examples of bogus requests have been published on the websites of:

The World Intellectual Property Organisation WIPO

The European Union Intellectual Property Office EUIPO