This Week’s Inventor Roundup

New invention promotion company complaints listed on the USPTO site (http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/com/iip/complaints.htm):

Davison & Associates Inc.
January 2005–Guay’s Complaint, Davison’s Response

Synergy Consultants
February 2005–Santorello’s Complaint, no resposne from Synergy yet

QVC Product Search–QVC is looking for 100 new products to sell…and are offering inventors and entrepenuers and open audition.  They have one date left open this year:  Friday April 22, 2005 at West Chester, Pennsylvania.  Check their site for more details.
[via a mention in Fast Company magazine]

A U.K. consumer advice site with a discussion of invention promotion companies ("Scams–Invention promotion firms")

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This week’s inventor news roundup

Lone Inventor’s Blog on “Invention Promotion Scams“

Pierce Law IP News Blog on “National Inventors Hall of Fame announces its 2005 Inductees”

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This Week’s Inventor News Recap

PHOSITA Blog on:  Caveat emptor! Invention Promotion Companies

Lexington Herald-Leader on:  Some Inventors Like Them; Others Say They’re Rip-Offs
[Article mentions Advent Product Development]

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This Week’s Inventor News Roundup

Market assessment for inventors

"A common problem confronting small businesses and individual inventors is that of determining whether a market exists for an invention.  A common approach for many is to succumb to the advertisements of so called invention promotion companies.  While some of these companies provide a legitimate and valuable service, many do not."  (click the link to read the rest of the article)

Sweet smell of success

Inventive spirit starts to pay off for creator of the Garlic Twist and a mom who knows what kids need…

From "The Lone Inventor’s Blog," a post on "Inventing Money"

"So you have a great invention, and you want to license it to prospective clients, or even start a business around it and the innovation that created it. The only thing standing in your way is a small matter of finances. Many great inventions are never capitalized upon because of a funding crisis of one sort or another. There are some ways to get that funding you need, and make sure that you use it wisely…."

From the Mobile (AL) Register, an article entitled "Patent Pending" which talks about one inventor’s experiences with Invent-Tech:

"Monique Lyle of Magnolia Springs has nothing but contempt for the company she paid $4,450 to market her space-saving idea: a double-decker dog bed."

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