Patent Registry Ordered To Release Billing Records

DAYTONA BEACH (CN) - A Florida appeals court ordered the Federated Institute for Patent and Trademark Registry to release records of how many companies it allegedly duped into sending it money for patent and trademark applications.

The state attorney general accused Federated of sending phony invoices to businesses with pending patent and trademark applications, tricking those companies into sending money to keep their applications current.

The court rejected Federated's argument that disclosure would expose its record custodian to potential criminal liability in violation of his Fifth Amendment rights.

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