We have recently seen another type of trademark letter being sent to UK trademark owners, this time from a business using the name Stern Young & Partners Intellectual Property.

This one is slightly different from the OMPS, TMP and VPS trademark publication letters we have covered before.

Those letters usually ask for a publication fee for a private database or online listing.

The Stern Young & Partners letter appears to target trademark owners whose marks are coming up for renewal, particularly owners who do not already have a representative recorded at the UK Intellectual Property Office.

That does not automatically make it a scam.

However, in our view, business owners should treat this type of trademark letter with real caution before signing anything or agreeing to pay.

Why this letter may look legitimate

The letter looks more professional than many of the trademark scam letters we usually see.

It includes:

• A professional looking logo
• The wording “Intellectual Property”
• A barcode and reference number
• Your real trademark number
• Your renewal date
• Your trademark classes
• Your current address details
• A renewal fee
• A request to sign and return the document

The website also looks professional, which can make the letter feel more credible.

This is why it is important not to judge a trademark letter only by how polished it looks.

A good website, a smart logo and accurate trademark details do not automatically mean you should sign.

The Stern Young & Partners letter

A redacted version of the letter is set out below, with the personal and trademark details replaced by placeholders.

This is how the original letter appears (client information has been redacted for privacy)

What is different about this letter?

This letter is not quite the same as the other postal scams we have reported on such as Distinctive Law, OMPS, TMP or VPS.

It does appear to relate to a real trademark renewal service.

The issue is the way the letter is presented, the price being charged and the lack of obvious context for the recipient.

The letter refers to your trademark being about to expire and asks you to sign and return the form if you want Stern Young & Partners to renew it.

That could easily make a business owner think:

• This is an official renewal notice
• I need to use this provider
• This is connected to the UKIPO
• This is the standard cost of renewing my trademark
• I may lose my trademark if I do not respond

That is where the concern sits.

The cost is very high

The letter refers to a total fee of £1,320.

For context, this is significantly more than many representatives charge for a straightforward UK trademark renewal.

At The Trademark Helpline, our renewal pricing is considerably lower than this for a standard renewal.

For many SME owners, paying £1,320 for a renewal without checking the market first could mean spending hundreds of pounds more than necessary.

That is not a small difference, to sign up with a trademark representative who appears to have only renewed a handful of trademarks.

It mentions VAT, but the wording is unclear

The letter says:

“The total fee for the renewal is £1,320 including all applicable filing fees excluding VAT.”

This wording is not especially clear for an ordinary business owner.

There is no clear VAT breakdown on the front of the letter, and the wording could leave people unsure whether VAT is included, excluded or still to be added. This could be viewed as an attempt to conceal they are a commercial organisation.

When someone is being asked to pay a large sum for a trademark renewal, the pricing should be clear.

It uses a virtual office address

Another point to note is that Stern Young & Partners appears to use a known virtual office style address in London.

There is nothing automatically wrong with using a virtual office address.

Many legitimate businesses do.

However, when combined with a high value renewal letter, no phone number on the letter and a polished but relatively hard to verify online presence, it is something worth checking before signing.

They appear on the UKIPO register

This is where the position becomes more nuanced.

Unlike some obvious trademark publication scams, Stern Young & Partners appear to be listed as representatives on the UKIPO register.

That does not mean every letter should be ignored.

It also does not mean every business owner should simply sign.

The important question is whether the recipient understands:

• Who they are dealing with
• What they are agreeing to
• What the fee covers
• Whether they are free to use another representative
• Whether they are being added to any wider monitoring service
• Whether better value options are available

Our experience

When we called, the response we received was that they target trademark owners without representation for renewal and monitoring services.

That in itself is not unlawful.

Businesses are allowed to market services.

However, it is strange that a letter asking someone to authorise a £1,320 renewal does not appear to include a clear phone number on the letter itself.

If a business is openly offering a professional renewal service, you would expect it to be easy for the recipient to ask questions before signing.

Is this a trademark scam?

We would be careful with the wording here.

This may not be a direct scam in the same sense as the OMPS, TMP or VPS publication letters.

It may be a real service.

However, in our opinion, it raises concerns because:

•  It targets trademark owners at renewal time
• It uses formal wording that could be mistaken for an official notice
• It charges a high fee compared with many standard renewal services
• It uses the wording “Intellectual Property” prominently
• It does not appear to show a clear VAT breakdown on the front of the letter
• It does not appear to include a phone number on the letter
• It appears to avoid the normal Google review footprint you might expect from a visible service provider

The key point is simple.

Do not sign or pay until you understand exactly what you are agreeing to.

Why trademark renewal letters are risky

Trademark renewal letters are particularly effective because the risk is real.

If your trademark is not renewed on time, you can lose rights.

That means business owners are naturally more likely to act quickly when they receive a letter saying their trademark is about to expire.

That urgency can be used against them.

A genuine renewal deadline should be taken seriously, but that does not mean you have to use the business that sent you the letter.

You can choose your own representative.

You can check the renewal date yourself.

You can ask the UKIPO or an experienced trademark representative to verify what needs doing.

What should you do if you receive a Stern Young & Partners letter?

If you receive this letter, or any similar trademark renewal letter:

• Do not panic
• Do not sign immediately
• Do not assume it is from the UKIPO
• Do not assume the fee is the standard renewal cost
• Check whether your trademark is actually due for renewal
• Check whether you already have a representative
• Get a second opinion before paying

This is especially important if the letter has been sent directly to you and you do not remember asking that business to act for you.

Do not ignore genuine renewal deadlines

This is the important balance.

You should not ignore the letter completely.

Your trademark may genuinely be coming up for renewal.

If it is, action may be needed.

The issue is not whether the trademark needs renewing.

The issue is whether this is the right provider, the right price and the right service for you.

A five minute check could save you a significant amount of money.

Why representation helps

This is another example of why many clients use our care of address and representation service.

When trademark correspondence comes through us, we can quickly identify what is official, what is misleading and what genuinely needs action.

That includes renewal notices, scam letters, publication invoices and third party approaches.

The client does not need to spend time working out whether every trademark letter is real, urgent or worth paying.

That is part of what professional representation is there for.

Final thought

The Stern Young & Partners letter is different from the usual trademark publication scams, but business owners should still be cautious.

It appears to involve a real renewal service, but the high fee, formal presentation and lack of clear context could easily lead someone to sign without properly understanding their options.

If your trademark is coming up for renewal, do not ignore it.

But equally, do not assume the first renewal letter you receive is official, necessary or good value.

If in doubt, get in touch before you sign, pay or let the deadline pass.

You can also read more about reviewing your trademark position, renewal needs and wider brand protection through our Trademark Consultation and Audit service.