We were recently notified of a trademark warning email doing the rounds, which was brought to our attention by a very astute Superintendent Minister of a London based Methodist church, who suspected something was amiss due to the opening language of the email and the poor formatting of the image based signature.

The email came from an address using the domain: paul.rawlinson@trademarkium.uk

The subject line was: UK Registration Documentation

It claimed that another party had instructed the sender’s office to file a UK trademark application for the church’s name, and that the church had been given a final opportunity to protect the trademark first. This is the same pattern we are seeing repeatedly.

Create urgency. Create fear. Offer the solution.

But this example is particularly concerning because the email footer uses the name Paul Rawlinson and describes him as an Intellectual Property Lawyer. There was a highly respected intellectual property lawyer called Paul Rawlinson, formerly of Baker McKenzie, who sadly passed away in 2019.

We are not suggesting that the real Paul Rawlinson had anything to do with this email. Quite the opposite, the concern is that the name of a deceased and respected intellectual property lawyer appears to have been used to give credibility to a trademark warning email in order to try and make unsuspecting organisations part with their money.

The Email

The email stated:

Dear [REDACTED],

I hope you are doing well.

This email serves as our final notice concerning the trademark rights associated with [REDACTED] in the United Kingdom.

A separate applicant has formally instructed our office to submit an application for this branding before the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO). As a professional courtesy, we temporarily placed those instructions on hold to allow your business the first opportunity to protect the trademark.

We are no longer able to maintain that hold.

As the UK follows a first-to-file trademark system, the timing of an application can play a significant role in determining legal rights. While outcomes depend upon the specific circumstances of each case, obtaining registration at an early stage generally places the registered proprietor in a stronger legal position.

Should another party complete registration first, your business may be exposed to risks including:

• Objections relating to the continued use of your existing brand.
• Formal legal correspondence requesting that your branding be discontinued or amended.
• Potential opposition, cancellation, or other legal proceedings.
• Commercial disruption affecting licensing, expansion, franchising, or investment activities.
• Significant expense if rebranding becomes necessary, including replacement of marketing materials, websites, packaging, stationery, signage, and digital assets.

Postponing action may reduce your available legal options while increasing both complexity and future costs.

If you intend to secure this trademark in your own name, please confirm your instructions as soon as possible so we may process your application before proceeding on behalf of the competing applicant.

If we do not receive your confirmation, we will continue in accordance with our existing instructions from the other party, and your opportunity to obtain priority through our office will cease.

To move forward, simply reply to this email or contact our office directly on [REDACTED].

We look forward to your prompt response.

The Name In The Footer

The email footer displayed the name Paul Rawlinson, with the title Intellectual Property Lawyer. As mentioned above, there was a very well-known intellectual property lawyer called Paul Rawlinson. He was formerly the global chair of Baker McKenzie, was widely respected in the legal profession, and sadly passed away in 2019.

We do not know who is behind Trademarkium. We do not know why this name has been used. However, if the intention was to make the email appear connected to the late Paul Rawlinson, that is extremely serious.

This article is not about criticising Paul Rawlinson, it is the absolute opposite. It is about warning businesses that the names of genuine, respected or even deceased legal professionals are continuing to be used to make questionable trademark emails look more credible.

Is Trademarkium A Genuine Firm?

The footer used the name Trademarkium.

The email address used the domain: trademarkium.uk

The footer also showed: trademarkium.co.uk

At the time of writing, we have not identified a Companies House record for Trademarkium.

The website also did not appear to be visible or secure when reviewed.

That does not prove, by itself, that the email is fraudulent. But when combined with the use of a deceased IP lawyer’s name, a non-functioning or insecure website, and the familiar pressure-based wording, it raises obvious concerns.

The Tactics

The email tells the recipient:

• another party is about to file for their name
• the sender has placed that application on hold
• the hold cannot continue
• the recipient may face legal and commercial consequences
• the sender can file the application for them first
• they should respond promptly

This is not the way most business owners expect to be approached about a genuine trademark issue.

A genuine trademark conflict can be serious. However, it should be possible to verify who is acting, who the applicant is, whether an application exists, and whether the person contacting you is genuinely connected to the organisation they claim to represent.

Pressure is the point, as the less time you have to check, the more likely you are to panic and pay.

Why This One Is Particularly Low

Most trademark scam emails target businesses. This one appears to have targeted a church.

Charities, churches and community organisations should not have to deal with legal-sounding emails designed to create fear around their name.

They did exactly the right thing. They questioned it, checked the details, and contacted us before taking any action, and we are grateful that they did.

What Should You Do If You Receive A Trademarkium Email?

If you receive an email from Trademarkium, or any similar organisation claiming that another party is about to register your name as a trademark, do not panic.

Before replying, calling or paying, check:

• Is there actually a pending UK trademark application?
• Who is the alleged competing applicant?
• Is the sender a real legal business?
• Is the website secure and active?
• Is the person named in the footer genuinely connected to the sender?
• Does the company exist on Companies House?
• Is the person or firm regulated?
• Do you already have rights in the name?

If you already have a trademark representative, send the email to them.

If you do not, get a second opinion before giving instructions or making any payment. You can check known scams in our free Trademark Scam Directory, which lists the fake trademark letters, invoices and emails reported to us.

Have You Received A Trademarkium Email?

If you have received a UK Registration Documentation email from Trademarkium, or a similar email from another organisation, we would be interested in seeing it.

We are continuing to monitor these approaches and build a clearer picture of the names, domains and tactics being used.

And if you landed here after searching to check whether the Trademarkium email is a scam, the honest answer is that we cannot yet verify who is behind it. What we can say is that the checks above took us minutes, and nothing about them reassured us.

As always, if in doubt, do not pay anybody. Pick up the phone and call us on 0161 833 5400, or drop us an enquiry first.