Thought Leadership

Addressing False Claims, Fake Websites in Light of COVID-19

March 18, 2020 Advisory

As the world responds to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), consumers are looking for basic goods online at an increased frequency. Fake websites are popping up quickly and trying to take advantage of the current crisis. If your company provides goods that are in high demand, you should be on high alert for these sites, which may use a combination of your company name, trademarks and copyrights to offer your products in an attempt to defraud consumers. Many such sites are also making false claims related to stopping the COVID-19 virus.

Our Intellectual Property attorneys are closely monitoring the situation and actively assisting clients in these instances. We recommend taking proactive steps to mitigate risk, including:

  • monitoring your customer service line carefully for complaints about orders that are not being received and investigate any reported online sources of your products to verify they are a genuine vendor;
  • monitoring the internet with daily searches for your key product names to identity infringers; and
  • communicating with your customers proactively through your official website and social media channels to alert consumers to these scams and direct them to your authorized vendors or customer service line if they have any questions about procuring authentic products.

If you identify infringers, please consider working with counsel to take the following actions:

  • Send takedown notices and abuse reports to the domain name registrars and/or hosting sites.
  • Send cease and desist letters to all entities identifiable through investigations into the addresses, phone numbers and e-mails listed on these sites, as well as tracing website information.
  • Report the sites to the appropriate state and federal authorities (i.e. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Complaints).
  • Formal civil actions, such as a Temporary Restraining Order, may also be an option. 

The legal landscape associated with the COVID-19 pandemic is evolving almost as quickly as the pandemic itself.  Armstrong Teasdale’s Intellectual Property attorneys are already assisting clients with these measures and will continue to monitor and provide updates regarding these developments.  

Contact Us
  • Worldwide
  • Boston, MA
  • Chicago, IL
  • Denver, CO
  • Dublin, Ireland
  • Edwardsville, IL
  • Jefferson City, MO
  • Kansas City, MO
  • Las Vegas, NV
  • London, England
  • Miami, FL
  • New York, NY
  • Orange County, CA
  • Philadelphia, PA
  • Princeton, NJ
  • Salt Lake City, UT
  • St. Louis, MO
  • Washington, D.C.
  • Wilmington, DE
Worldwide
abstract image of world map
Boston, MA
800 Boylston St.
30th Floor
Boston, MA 02199
Google Maps
Boston, Massachusetts
Chicago, IL
100 North Riverside Plaza
Suite 1500
Chicago, IL 60606-1520
Google Maps
Chicago, Illinois
Denver, CO
4643 S. Ulster St.
Suite 800
Denver, CO 80237
Google Maps
Denver, Colorado
Dublin, Ireland
Fitzwilliam Hall, Fitzwilliam Place
Dublin 2, Ireland
Google Maps
Edwardsville, IL
115 N. Second St.
Edwardsville, IL 62025
Google Maps
Edwardsville, Illinois
Jefferson City, MO
101 E. High St.
First Floor
Jefferson City, MO 65101
Google Maps
Jefferson City, Missouri
Kansas City, MO
2345 Grand Blvd.
Suite 1500
Kansas City, MO 64108
Google Maps
Kansas City, Missouri
Las Vegas, NV
7160 Rafael Rivera Way
Suite 320
Las Vegas, NV 89113
Google Maps
Las Vegas, Nevada
London, England
Royal College of Surgeons of England
38-43 Lincoln’s Inn Fields
London, WC2A 3PE
Google Maps
Miami, FL
355 Alhambra Circle
Suite 1200
Coral Gables, FL 33134
Google Maps
Photo of Miami, Florida
New York, NY
7 Times Square, 44th Floor
New York, NY 10036
Google Maps
New York City skyline
Orange County, CA
19800 MacArthur Boulevard
Suite 300
Irvine, CA 92612
Google Maps
Philadelphia, PA
2005 Market Street
29th Floor, One Commerce Square
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Google Maps
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Princeton, NJ
100 Overlook Center
Second Floor
Princeton, NJ 08540
Google Maps
Princeton, New Jersey
Salt Lake City, UT
222 South Main St.
Suite 1830
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Google Maps
Salt Lake City, Utah
St. Louis, MO
7700 Forsyth Blvd.
Suite 1800
St. Louis, MO 63105
Google Maps
St. Louis, Missouri
Washington, D.C.
1717 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Suite 400
Washington, DC 20006
Google Maps
Photo of Washington, D.C. with the Capitol in the foreground and Washington Monument in the background.
Wilmington, DE
1007 North Market Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
Google Maps
Wilmington, Delaware