USPTO Keeps Purging Fraudulent Trademark Filings: Sellers Who Used Low-Cost Agents Should Check Their Marks
The USPTO issued 11 administrative orders in six months targeting about 10,500 trademark applications and registrations, after terminating more than 52,000 tied to one foreign filing firm. A purged mark can undermine Brand Registry and enforcement.
What happened
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has been steadily removing fraudulent trademark filings:
- May 12, 2026: the USPTO announced 11 administrative orders issued over the prior six months, targeting the removal of about 10,500 trademark applications and registrations. Grounds include unauthorized practice of law by filing firms, improper signatures, false information, and firms impersonating the USPTO to charge nonexistent fees.
- August 2025: the USPTO sanctioned a foreign filing firm and terminated more than 52,000 applications and registrations connected to it. The firm misused U.S. attorneys’ credentials, forged electronic signatures, submitted fake specimens, and misused USPTO.gov accounts.
What this means for cross-border sellers
Many sellers registered U.S. trademarks through low-cost agents to qualify for Amazon Brand Registry. If the agent engaged in this kind of misconduct, your mark may be swept up even if you knew nothing about it.
A terminated or cancelled mark can trigger a chain reaction:
- Brand Registry may lapse, along with control over your listings and complaint tools
- Your enforcement basis disappears, so you can no longer act against hijackers or infringers under that mark
- Others may file for your brand name
The USPTO also warns about notices impersonating the agency. Verify any “renewal” or “registration” payment demand before paying.
Our suggestions
- Check your mark’s status in USPTO’s TSDR system for “Abandoned,” “Cancelled,” or sanction-related entries
- Confirm that the Attorney of Record on your filing is a real U.S.-licensed attorney
- If your mark is affected, assess a new filing promptly before someone else claims the name
- Verify any fee notice through the official USPTO website before paying
Sources
Not sure your mark is safe?
Send us your U.S. registration number and we will check its status and filing history and tell you whether anything needs fixing.