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

National Inventor Fraud Center
http://www.inventorfraud.com/

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/

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

Internet Resources:

• 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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