Trademark Owners -- Stop and Think BEFORE You Pay

If you have a new TM registration chances are you may receive some very *interesting* notices - via regular mail or email. Some of these notices may at first glance appear to be from a governmental agency, others may quote or attempt to paraphrase trademark law.  The type of communications I am referring to have one major thing in common - they all include instructions as to how much, where and how to send your money. 

You can see a listing from the USPTO of Non-USPTO solicitations that may resemble official USPTO communications here:  http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/solicitation_warnings.jsp

One interesting solicitation I have been receiving recently via email is the following:

•  Trademark Owner's Digest   
  
  The solicitation from Trademark Owner's Digest looks like this:
  
  
  
  It begins with "Congratulations! Your Trademark has been registered."  This immediately sets alarm bells ringing in my head, as coming from new York, I am naturally suspicious of being congratulated by anyone for anything.  Of course, it is entirely possible that Trademark Owner's Digest provides a very valuable service in exchange for the $980.00. 
  
  Trademark owners should be careful in responding to ANY solicitations pertaining to their trademark applications or registrations.   Know what you are getting in return before you send your money!