A Step in the Right Direction
The American Inventors Protection Act of 1999 was signed into law (P.L. 106-113) on November 29, 1999. It contains two key provisions:
◆ The title requires invention promoters to disclose in writing the number of positive and negative evaluations of inventions they have given over a five-year period and their customers’ success in receiving net financial profit and license agreements as a direct result of the invention promotion services.
◆ Customers injured by failure to disclose the required information or by any material false or fraudulent representation by the invention promoter can bring a civil action to recover statutory damages up to $5,000 or actual damages. Damages of up to three times the amount awarded are available for intentional or willful violations.
If you have a complaint about operators of invention promotion companies, file it at the FTC by visiting www.ftc.gov. Or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382- 4357). At the USPTO, the toll-free number for complaints about invention promotion firms is 1-866-767-3848.
Another option for filing a complaint is your state attorney general and the attorney general in the state(s) where the invention marketing company operates. The attorney general is the chief legal officer of a state. If you’re going to file a complaint, it’s a good idea to include the attorney general along with the FTC and Better Business Bureau (BBB). Go for a full-court press! To find your state attorney general’s name and contact data, go to www.naag.org/attorneys_general.php.
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