Over 40,000 Trademarks At Risk: A Wake-Up Call About Fake Filing Companies
By now, you may have seen the headlines: the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) just issued a Show Cause Order that could cancel more than 40,000 trademark registrations linked to a China-based company, Shenzhen Seller Growth Network Technology Co., Ltd. and its affiliates. The numbers are staggering. But the story beneath those numbers is even more important—especially for entrepreneurs and brand owners who’ve unknowingly placed their trust in the wrong hands. Below, our friends from Trademark Lawyer Law Firm discuss fake filing companies posing a risk to 40,000+ trademarks.
Let’s break this down. The USPTO has accused these entities of engaging in the unauthorized practice of law, forging attorney signatures, and submitting false or fictitious information to push thousands of trademark applications through the system. And now, all of those trademarks are under threat of being canceled.
Yes—canceled.
That means thousands of business owners who thought they were protected… suddenly aren’t.
Why This Matters To You
This isn’t just some bureaucratic dispute in Washington. This is about real people—business owners—who thought they were doing the right thing by protecting their brands. But instead of hiring a qualified U.S. trademark attorney, they went with a bargain-basement option that promised fast results at a too-good-to-be-true price.
Now they’re paying the price.
Their trademarks may be pulled out of the USPTO system entirely. Their rights are in limbo. And the cost of reapplying or defending their marks could skyrocket.
Even worse, some of these business owners may not even know their trademark is at risk—until it’s too late.
How This Happened
Companies like Seller Growth have built massive operations outside the U.S., targeting foreign business owners—especially those selling on platforms like Amazon—with quick, cheap trademark filing services. They often hide behind fake U.S. attorney credentials or misuse real lawyers’ information without their knowledge.
On paper, it may have looked legitimate. But behind the scenes, they were cutting corners, submitting false documents, and violating U.S. law.
The USPTO said it best: these practices “tainted at their core” the integrity of the trademark registration system.
The Lesson: Who You Hire Matters
This is a cautionary tale. When you file a trademark in the U.S., you’re not just filling out a form. You’re making legal claims that affect your business rights—and the consequences of doing it wrong can be devastating.
At my firm, we’ve seen too many clients come to us after getting burned by these kinds of services. Sometimes, we can fix it. Other times, the damage is already done. Either way, it ends up costing far more time, money, and stress than if they had hired a qualified trademark attorney in the first place.
What You Should Do Now
If you filed your trademark using a non-U.S. agency, or if you’re unsure whether your attorney of record is legitimate, now’s the time to double-check. Look them up in the USPTO’s directory of licensed practitioners. Ask questions. Get a second opinion from a trademark litigation lawyer if something feels off.
And if you’ve received any notice from the USPTO—especially something mentioning a “Show Cause Order” or cancellation—don’t ignore it. There may still be time to respond and protect your rights, but the clock is ticking.
The trademark system is meant to protect business owners, not punish them. But it only works if everyone plays by the rules—and that includes the people you hire to represent you.
So don’t take shortcuts. Don’t go with the cheapest option just because it’s easy. And definitely don’t trust your brand to someone you’ve never spoken with directly.
Do everything you can to keep your brand safe and protected.