IPOPHL Warns Philippine Businesses Against Trademark Registration Scam
The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines has flagged Crown Mark, a purported UK-based consultancy, for claiming affiliation with the agency to solicit trademark registrations from local businesses.
The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) has warned businesses and trademark owners against Crown Mark, a purported UK-based consultancy firm that claims to be affiliated with the government agency.
Individuals who claim to represent Crown Mark have been informing businesses that a competing party intends to file a trademark using their brand name, a June 26 advisory informed.
The IPOPHL said these individuals have been advising recipients to register their brand name as a trademark with the UKIPO before other competing parties do so.
The government agency has no official relationship with any entity named “Crown Mark” in the UK or in other territories.
A trademark protects a brand name, logo, or tagline by giving a business the exclusive right to use these in connection with its goods or services.
Trademark filings in the Philippines reached 44,308 in 2025, a slight 0.5% contraction from the previous year.
IPOPHL advises the public to remain vigilant against fraud and to refrain from clicking links, downloading attachments, or making payments to suspicious correspondence.
The World Intellectual Property Organization also offers tips on how to spot scams:
- Check the sender’s address. – Note that email addresses can be spoofed or impersonated.
- Analyze the content. – Be cautious of any email creating pressure to act immediately.
- Inspect the links. – Hover over messages with links to preview the URL.
- Check for attachments. – Exercise vigilance over unsolicited files that are sent.
- Look at the overall message quality. – Watch for unusual formatting and poor grammar.
- Pay attention to the questions asked. – Be wary of providing payment information, including over the phone.
- Verify the identity of the person calling. – Do not hesitate to hang up if in doubt of the caller’s credentials.
Concerned Filipinos may report any irregular intellectual property-related activities to the IPOPHL‘s official media channels, customer support email ([email protected]), or hotline at 02 7238-6300.
Frequently Asked Questions
Crown Mark is a purported UK-based consultancy whose representatives have been contacting Philippine businesses with unsolicited messages claiming that a competing party intends to file a trademark using their brand name. Recipients are then pressured to register with the UK Intellectual Property Office before a competitor does. IPOPHL has confirmed it has no official relationship with any entity operating under the name “Crown Mark” in the UK or any other territory.
The World Intellectual Property Organization advises IP owners to check that any correspondence comes from a verified sender address, since email addresses can be spoofed. Other red flags include urgent language pressuring immediate action, suspicious links or unsolicited attachments, unusual formatting, poor grammar, and requests for payment information, including over the phone.
Concerned Filipinos may report any irregular intellectual property-related activities to IPOPHL through its official social media channels, customer support email ([email protected]), or hotline at 02 7238 6300.
A trademark is a legally protected identifier — such as a brand name, logo, or tagline — that gives a business the exclusive right to use it in connection with its goods or services. Trademark filings in the Philippines reached 44,308 in 2025, reflecting sustained interest in brand protection across sectors.
Philippine businesses should first register their trademark with IPOPHL to secure domestic protection. For those with international operations or export ambitions, the Madrid System — administered by WIPO — allows applicants to seek protection in multiple countries through a single application.
