Maine Inventors Forum

Inventors often come across the same types of issues, from patent questions to inventor fraud concerns, to manufacturing and related matters. The Maine Patent Program sponsors the Maine Inventors Forum which holds regular meetings in Portland and Orono. Please visit our Events page for updates on meeting schedules, locations and agendas.

Several other organizations exist for inventors across the nation. Here are a few links:

• National Congress of Inventor Organizations
  http://www.inventionconvention.com/ncio.index.html
  
• Minnesota Inventors' Congress:
  http://inventhelper.org/b-index.html

Inventor Fraud

Many inventors lose money to invention fraud in an attempt to obtain patent protection, or to market their invention to manufacturers. Before you invest in an invention broker or unknown patent service, do your homework to determine its legitimacy. Contact the Maine Patent Program office with any questions, and consider checking out the following resources on the subject of inventor fraud:

United States Patent & Trademark Office's Scam Prevention Brochure: http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/com/iip/documents/scamprevent.pdf

"Maine Inventors - Beware of the SCAM"
By: Jake Ward, Director
University of Maine Department of Industrial Cooperation

Got an invention? You, too, can be scammed
Experts say that consumers lose $300 million a year to promotion firms:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4863987/

Internet Resources:

• National Inventor Fraud Center: www.inventorfraud.com
  
• United States Patent & Trademark Office - Inventor Resources: http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/com/iip/complaints.htm
  
• Federal Trade Commission - Facts for Consumers (Invention Promotion Firms):
  http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/services/invent.htm
  
• InventorEd.org (Education & News For Inventors): www.inventored.org
  
• InventNET - The Inventors Network: www.inventnet.com/scam.html
  
• National Congress of Inventor Organizations: www.inventionconvention.com/ncio/scambusters/
  
• Brown & Michaels: www.bpmlegal.com/pinvmktg.html

What Can You Do?

• File Consumer Complaint Form with FTC: https://rn.ftc.gov/dod/wsolcq$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU01
  or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357), TTY: 1-866-653-4261
  
• File Complaint with US PTO (1999 AIPA): http://www.uspto.gov/web/forms/
  If you are an independent inventor and have questions or concerns, call the USPTO toll free at 1-866-767-3848.

• File Complaints with BBB, Chamber of Commerce
  
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