Invention Promotion Company settles with FTC for $10.7 million

Apparently, the FTC has settled its case with Davison & Associates for $10.7 million in cash, real estate and investment assets, less than half of the $26 million dollar judgment awarded in 2006. See: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - “O’Hara invention promoter, FTC settle case for $10.7 million.“

Related Posts:

• FTC vs. Davison & Associates (Davison Design and Development) Decided
• This week’s inventor news…
• USPTO on FTC v. Davison

Updated links to USPTO & FTC publications on invention promotion companies

Contact the USPTO Before You Get Burned (PDF) [Original] [Local copy]

FTC Consumer Alert: Spotting Sweet-Sounding Promises of Fraudulent Invention Promotion Firms (PDF) [Original] [Local Copy]

FTC Facts for Consumers: Invention Promotion Firms (PDF) [Original] [Local Copy]

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• American Inventors…be wary
• Independent Inventors and Invention Promotion Companies
• USPTO on FTC v. Davison

Licensing, Quick Prototypes

Four Hour Workweek Blog on “A Beginner’s Guide: How to Rent Your Ideas to Fortune 500 Companies.”

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• Boise Idea Market!
• News for Inventors…
• Even dumb inventions can be profitable

Who is Millennium Marketing Group (MMG), Overland Park, KS?

Someone recently asked me if I know anything about Millennium Marketing Group (MMG).  I’ve never heard of them but will open the comments to this post for my readers’ insight. 

[Comment Policy for this Blog]

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• Who is Pacific World Marketing?
• Who is the Emirates Manufacturing Corporation?
• The Hype Around LegalForce

What is a reasonable royalty rate?

As usual, “it depends.”  However, the Patent Baristas blog has an excellent answer to that question.

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• Tips for prospective blawgers
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Has anyone heard of “Worldwide Invention Solutions?”

I’ve received a question from a reader regarding whether or not anyone has heard of an invention promoter by the name of “Worldwide Invention Solutions.” I haven’t but, the comments are open…

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• Who is the Emirates Manufacturing Corporation?
• Who is Millennium Marketing Group (MMG), Overland Park, KS?
• Who is Inventor-Link.com?

Boise Inventor Makes it to the Finals of the Gold Channel’s Fore Inventors Only Show

Congrats to a local inventor! Idaho Statesman — Boise businessman reaches final of Golf Channel reality show

Not that I’m biased or anything (I wrote the patent)…but I think that Dean Thompson’s “Z-Factor” invention is clearly the winner. Go Dean!

The winner will be determined by the viewers. To vote, go to http://www.thegolfchannel.com/foreinventors/.

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• Fore Inventors Only — Golf Channel
• Fore Inventors, Part Deux!
• USPTO Co-Sponsoring Invention Contest

Advice: How to find a good patent attorney

Great advice from an inventor of toys.

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• SLAPPing the whistle blowing inventors
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Fore Inventors, Part Deux!

The Golf Channel is accepting applications for a second season of their Fore Inventors Only show.  If you (or a client) have a golf invention…now’s your chance. 

Speaking of Fore Inventors Only, congrats to local inventor Dean Thompson who has made it to the final 10 inventors in the competition.

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• Fore Inventors Only — Golf Channel
• Boise Inventor Makes it to the Finals of the Gold Channel’s Fore Inventors Only Show
• The Best Interest of the Client

FAQ on Invention Promotion Companies

Brown & Michaels has an excellent page worth reading entitled “Invention Marketing Companies: Are they for real?” Includes questions/topics like:

• How do they work?
• What should you ask an Invention Marketer?
• The American Inventors Protection Act of 1999
• What about “Company X”?
• Companies against whom Legal Action has been taken
• Complaints to USPTO
• Various Articles on Invention Marketing Companies

Related Posts:

• Independent Inventors and Invention Promotion Companies
• Invent-Tech (Invention-Technologies) and Idaho inventors
• American Inventors…be wary