USPTO Sanctions Foreign Firm for Signature Fraud in Landmark Trademark Case

Release Time：2025-07-08 09:42Author：Views：28

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has taken decisive action to uphold the integrity of the U.S. intellectual property system, issuing a precedential Final Order for Sanctions against Stelcore Management Services, LLC, a foreign filing firm. The sanctions, ordered on June 13, 2025, stem from the firm's systematic submission of improper signatures and false information in trademark applications.

The USPTO investigation revealed that Stelcore Management Services improperly entered applicant and attorney signatures on trademark submissions and provided demonstrably false information regarding both signatories and attorney credentials. As a direct consequence of these violations, the USPTO's Final Order imposes sanctions on the respondents and terminates all trademark application proceedings tainted by this misconduct.

Uncorrectable Violations with Serious Consequences:

The Order underscores a critical principle: signatures entered with the intent to circumvent USPTO rules are not mere procedural errors subject to correction. Such deliberate falsification constitutes a fundamental breach that can invalidate the affected trademark application or registration outright. The USPTO emphasized the gravity of the harm caused, stating within the Order:"[f]alse signature information substantially prejudices the USPTO’s ability to carry out its mandate to register only those marks for which the appropriate factual foundation supports registration."

Source: https://www.uspto.gov/about-us/news-updates/uspto-issues-order-sanctions-against-foreign-filing-firm

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