In August 2025, in its continuing efforts to curtail fraudulent trademark filings, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) terminated over 52,000 fraudulent trademark applications that were all filed by one firm alone, issuing sanctions against it. As fraudsters only get more clever, the USPTO is fighting back with modern technology, adding yet another level of verification for trademark filers requiring additional identity verification. Each individual must now have their own account, whether they are an officer of a company, an attorney or sponsored paralegal. The prior email system of verification is no longer sufficient. The simplest method involves using the filer’s smartphone and government ID (such as ID.ME) for a selfie-based process or a video call to verify identity for USPTO purposes. Once identity is verified, and the filer’s personal USPTO account is set up, the filer must now retrieve a code off their phone before the filing can proceed. We expect the USPTO to continue to monitor the trademark filings for accuracy and devise additional systems and protections as technology becomes more and more advanced.
Yes – It’s Really Me! - Avoiding Fraudulent Filings