42 Comments

1. I also am a victim of fraud and deceptive invention promotion to the tune of 1400 dollars.Advent is a fake and a fraud.They belong in jail.

   Comment by Kenneth J.Davis — January 28, 2007 #

2. Good old Advent, formerly NISI which was busted by the FTC for fraud.

   See: http://www.inventored.org/caution/advent/

   Comment by Ronald Riley — April 27, 2007 #

3. I used to work as a production designer at Advent Product Development (and their previous incarnation NISI - National Invention Services, Inc.), in their main Pawleys Island, SC office. They are a complete scam. I never saw one of the 1000’s of products/projects make a profit…or even go into production. They charge outlandish rates, and funnel customers into lending services that are in cahoots with the firm’s owner Steve Canino. STAY AWAY..they will string you along for years and years…siphoning money the whole time.

   Comment by Charlie X. — June 19, 2007 #

4. The links to the complaints filed against Advent are not available and I can not find them anymore. Could you please let me know where I can get this info. I have relatives that have been taken in by this scam of a company and need to show them current info and how it is being handeled before we go to a lawyer.

   Thanks!

   Comment by Sharon — July 19, 2007 #

5. I also tried getting this on PACER and could not find it. Please send me any attachments or forward any links you may have.

   Comment by Sharon — July 19, 2007 #

6. Links fixed. Thanks.

   Comment by Nipper — July 19, 2007 #

7. Thank you sooooooo much!!!!!!! Please let me know if you are aware of any other lawsuits/complaints filed against Advent (specifically in California).

   Thanks again!

   Comment by Sharon — July 23, 2007 #

8. I just scheduled my first visit to consult on my invention, after viewing this website I’m not sure I should… the company I am working with is in Baltimore, is this the same one??

   Comment by Cheryl — July 26, 2007 #

9. Are you joking? Read all the links to this site and others like the FTC and stay away from companies like this!

   Comment by Sharon — July 27, 2007 #

10. My Partner,Amy, and I have been taken by this company since October 2005 to the tune of $10,515.00. All received is a disc of our product and a drawing that we could have done on our home computer. They will not produce a manufacturer. We found one on our own and they will not pay them to produce our great product. Now their patent attorney wants $4450.00 for the second patent when we don’t even have a product to sell.

    I say they are crooked and would like to get our money back. Please do not even consider putting a penny into the company.

    We have notified our local newspaper and TV station and they are working on a story to prevent others from being taken like this.

    Eileen Mattioli - August 18, 2007

    Comment by Eileen Mattioli — August 18, 2007 #

11. I believe I have been a victim of fraud by Advent Product Development. Please contact me and I can tell more about my situation…I would love to bring a lawsuit against this company.

    Comment by michael snee — August 25, 2007 #

12. I recently went into an Advent office in San Diego CA. The gentleman I talked to seemed very convicing; after reading this site my judgement has been curved. I would like to disscus my concerns and hear what exactly happen to others.
    Can someone please email me their # @ inthepottershouse@yahoo.com before I make an investment I may regret.
    Thanks, DJ

    Comment by DJ — August 29, 2007 #

13. I put a lot of money into advent for a product i develop and it’s been 3 years now and it seems to be getting no where and i really don’t get any help from advent at all. just a bunch of stuff like we are sending contact list out to different companies. can anyone let me know what i can do or where to go for help if i’m beening scammed!

    Thanks

    MJ

    Comment by MJ — August 30, 2007 #

14. i was really scamed by APD THIEFS I HAD PUT IN 10,000 HARD EARNED MONEY and still dont even have a patent for my invetion and they ask me now for another 3500 bucks for a patent that shouldnt cost more then 500 dollars IM SCAMED I NEED MY MONEY BACK

    Comment by Dave — August 31, 2007 #

15. I am another who was scamed by Advent! They have cost me approx. $10,400 not counting the additional $3-5,000 spent on patent attorneys, etc. and over 3yrs. of my time/heart-ache only to be denied a patent. They failed to provide me with the disclosure-document as required by the American inventors act and misled me with their patent search. All i can say is not to wait to long to file a lawsuit! I’ve learned alot the hardway! My e-mail is lightmeuplifelight@yahoo.com

    Comment by Bill Taylor — September 2, 2007 #

16. I have met with an advent rep in the Philadelphia office and have paid 1/2 of the money up front for phase one. Does anyone have info on the Philadelphia office, and has anyone ever found success with advent? thanks.

    Comment by Margaret Paul — September 10, 2007 #

17. I’ve already given them the ten grand or so. Will someone please tell me if the lawyer they have recommended, Ashkan Najafi, is reputable? This is for the provisional patent.

    What I’ve read here is unfortunate, I decided to work with them because of a success article in the Philly Inquirer that was on the front page of the local section about a man who had invented a new type of skateboard. I guess seeing it in the paper gave me some sort of faith in them. Now I’m worried.

    Even if they don’t do anything marketing wise, will my invention atleast be protected? Thank you.

    Comment by Ted F — September 10, 2007 #

18. Ted, the provisional patent will protect your idea for a period of 24 months. You must file for a non-provisional patent/full patent, utility or design patent etc. (depending upon what catagory your idea falls into) prior to the 24th month expiring. In that event, if the patent search was not properly done you may have to re-design your invention to satisify the examiner. All that said be aware that there may be a statue of limitations for filing a lawsuit if necessary. Good Luck! Bill Taylor

    Comment by Bill Taylor — September 11, 2007 #

19. Bill Taylor…Provisionals are only good for 12 months, not 24. See: http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/provapp.htm

    Comment by Anon — September 11, 2007 #

20. Margaret, Don’t know anything about any of their offices other than the one i dealt with in Arcadia, Calif. which regret doing! Can only ask you if you recieved a disclosure document from them prior to signing a contract (as required by the American Inventors Protection Act of 1999) which will show you their sucess record for the last several years and after viewing that you can make a rational decision weather or not to give up your hard earned money? Bill Taylor

    Comment by Bill Taylor — September 11, 2007 #

21. Anon, yes you are correct the provisional patent is only good for a period of 12 months. I apologize for the typing error! Thanks

    Comment by Bill Taylor — September 11, 2007 #

22. Thanks Bill, I guess I’ll use the lawyer they recommended being that the provisional is already included in the money I gave them. At the one year point I can switch if I choose, and to be honest, they have always told me that. I also dealt with the Arcadia office. First with a girl named Jennifer who strangely disappeared, then with a man named Dallas, who was in charge of the office and somewhat inept. I eventually had to bypass him and call Pawley Island directly to get anything done. Although, the people there have been extremely helpful. I don’t understand why they wouldn’t want to push these inventions if they stand to make a percentage.

    Comment by Ted F — September 11, 2007 #

23. I’m really glad I saw this page before I went through with anything! I’m sorry to hear about all the misfortune.

    Comment by Matt — September 12, 2007 #

24. I notice that their website is no longer up. This could be a sign that the sham is finally over. I saw someone with an advent portfolio on the train yesterday and she looked really excited about her idea and the product development. I have several ideas that I am working to get into production so i took down the website of advent from her portfolio and I checked it out last night. Today I try to go back to the site and it has been taken down!!! Then I did a little more research and found this site with all these comments. This is UNBELIEVABLE! I am so sorry for all of you that were misled by this place. I hope you take them to the cleaners! Can anyone recommend another company that does this and is truly GENUINE? Please let me know.

    Comment by Nikki — September 13, 2007 #

25. Hi we are from New York City and thanks God we saw this site on time my partner and I were ready to give to Advent $3000 dollars more over a $1200 dollars that they already have taken from us. At the beginning they told us that in order to get our product patent we need to give them a $1200 dollars and so we did. After two month they call us and gave us a porfolio research without the patent, and all over again they asking us $3000 dollar more in order to patent our product. Can anyone please tell us a reliable product development company that can help us??

    Comment by Anibal&Maria — September 23, 2007 #

26. Thanks for all the info. Has anyone had any dealing with the one in Baltimore? Has anyone found anyone reliable yet?

    Comment by nitra — September 26, 2007 #

27. This was very valuable information. I am very happy that I read this information. I was scheduled to take them money on Friday. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get an invention out there the “right way”? By the way, I was dealing with the Advent in Illinois.

    Comment by Donnie — September 26, 2007 #

28. wow i got scr@w by advent product development and they didnt give me a kiss, dose anybody know a lawyer in phoenix AZ payback is a bitch

    Comment by stephen — September 30, 2007 #

29. i just had a meeting yesterday w/ a gentleman in San Diego, CA. I was going to give him the initial $595 payment tomorrow. I’m so glad that I decided to research them further before i did. I feel bad for those of you who were taken for a ride and hope you get your $$ back. Thank you though for sharing your experience you’ve just saved me from the same fate.

    Comment by summer — October 4, 2007 #

30. I was in the New York City Office in June of 2007 and paid the int. $595. Then I was called back in September 2007 to meet with the regional officer. They took me in the room and went through my porfilio with my invention, the idea that was on paper wasn’t even close to mine but they assured me that my idea will be patent. They gave me a dollar amount around $9000. I was in shocked so I started questioning them. As time went on, they started to drop the dollar amount to $6000. I was thinking to myself how could they just gone from 9 to 6 so I told them I will get back with them at a later time. A guy before me had signed their contract which I now feel bad for. Is there nothing we can do before more people get scam?

    Comment by phat — October 7, 2007 #

31. I was just wondering if anyone out there has ever recieved the “Disclosure Document” as they are required to give you under the American Inventors Act? If so, how many of their clients made money and curious how much? WE WOULD ALL BE INTERESTED IN ANY RESPONSES GIVEN! Thanks, Bill

    Comment by Bill Taylor — October 8, 2007 #

32. The local library has several books that will teach you everything you need to know from start to finish! Books like, “How to get a Patent”, “Taking your idea to Market”, etc. and many others.

    Comment by Bill Taylor — October 8, 2007 #

33. I too have been taken to the cleaner by Advent Product Development. I gave them 1100.00 and the man I spoke with is no longer with the company, how and Man by the the name Joe LLLLLLL would like to speak to me, I will be bring all the informantion I have gotten off the computer when I see him and hopefully he will give me my money back or I too be seeing a lawyer.

    Comment by Helen S — October 10, 2007 #

34. Hi
    Im an attorney in california, pursuing a claim for a client. I would be interested in any claims you have concerning this company’s failure to do what they say they will do. You can send your emails to jeffgrotke2000@yahoo.com

    jddg

    Comment by JDG — October 10, 2007 #

35. Hello, its a bit unfortunate that I bumped into this site a little late. A few weeks ago I had a meeting with Advent in the NY office and I gave them a downpayment of about $600 to start the patent search and the other day I called back to speak to the fella I had the interview with, Richie Roma was his name and they told me that he is no longer with them. I thought this was a little strainge and didn’t really think much of it until I found this website. Please if anyone knows a trustworthy company please let me know.

    Comment by brian — October 11, 2007 #

36. I was wondering if APD has ever been charged for stealing someone’s idea? Please let me know.

    Comment by ELP — October 15, 2007 #

37. Is there a class action suit against APD, I got a report and a disclosure document for $1000.

    This is a scam, we should try to get our $ back.

    VictoriaGranite@yahoo.com

    Comment by Victoria — October 18, 2007 #

38. Hello to all.

    I am a manufacturer. Today I received a fax from Adventand on a whim I Googled them, found this site.

    Since years ago I considered contacting a ’service’ like Advent and now I invent things for a (very good) living I thought I would share some thoughts.

    First: Learn your s##t. Go to school. Do the math. A great idea (solar powered air conditioner) is only of use if it can actually be built in this physical plane. I have seen many ‘inventions’ marketed to me where all I had to do was actually invent it. A ‘great idea’ is Marketing, not Inventing.

    There are many great resources on the internet for engineering education. Many parts manufacturers have great information and tutorials online. All industries have trade magazines and most are available online at no cost.

    Second: Play within your reach. Don’t start out with the biggest most technical project you can think of. Work on smaller projects as you “learn the ropes.” Make contacts in industry. Learn the language that your target industry uses. If you want to sell to Ford, get a job at Ford or someone that sells to or might want to sell to Ford. It really is ‘who you know, not what you know.’ Get out and meet people in related businesses. Go to trade shows. See what is on the market and who the players are.

    Third: You’re gonna hate this one. In my experience patents are worthless. Yep, you heard (OK, read) it right. If you patent a great idea for a solar powered air conditioner either Big Corporation, Inc. will steal it and their legal department will eat you up (They WILL win, You WILL lose) or the Chinese will make it and laugh at you for publishing your info in a patent.

    Comment by Bill — October 24, 2007 #

39. Almost forgot…

    If you do want to get a patent hire a patent attorney. It’s expensive, but if you’re going to do something do it right.

    Comment by Bill — October 24, 2007 #

40. resource: http://www.tradepub.com/

    Comment by Bill — October 24, 2007 #

41. I was to bring 595 on friday to new york office thank god I seen your site I will not be bringing them a dime. thay have a copie of my invention hope I can get it back!!!!!!

    Comment by Peggy Hernandez — October 25, 2007 #

42. When I regrettably signed with Advent and spent more than $10,000 I remember in the contract it stated that it’s okay to market our idea ourselves and they will not provide any help or ask for any money any as a result. I found another marketing/licensing agency that only charges $179 for everything, and will ask for 25-30% only if successful. I know my invention will take off with the right people involved. Instead of sitting here kicking myself, I have to move forward, like all of yous should be doing. In the mean time, I will be finding a contract atty and finding out if I can get my money back and pay back the loan I took out against my home.

    Comment by gina — October 26, 2007 #

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