Yesterday, January 9, 2008, InventHelp® issued a press release explaining that one of its clients had invented a rotating lounge chair that would allow sun bathers to obtain a more even tan.  This press release is not terribly unique, InventHelp® issues such press releases from time to time so that inventors will believe their services to be valuable.  Unfortunately, InventHelp® is one of the more notorious of invention submission scams.

InventHelp® is really not a company per se, but rather is a trademark that is owned by Invention Submission Corporation.  You can verify this for yourself by viewing the trademark search summary provided by the United States Trademark Office.  The importance of this is that Invention Submission Corporation, also known simply as ISC, has repeatedly been the subject of complaints from inventors who were mislead and taken advantage of as they sought help to patent and market their inventions.  The sad part about all of this is that both the Patent Office and the Federal Trade Commission know that inventors are being taken advantage of yet they seem helpless to do anything about it.

According to InventHelp.com:

From 2003 to 2005, we signed submission agreements with 6,592 clients. As a result of our services, 119 clients have received license agreements for their products, and 15 clients have received more money than they paid us for these services.

So you do not need to believe me that Invent Help takes advantage of unsuspecting inventors.  Just look at these numbers - 15 out of 6,592 clients made more money than they paid!  Those are not good odds at all.  Would you be willing to spend many thousands of dollars knowing that you had a 15 out of 6,592 chance in making money?  I doubt you would, and I know I would not. 

There are many reputable companies and law firms that operate in the invention arena, but those who claim to both do patent and marketing tend to be scams.  I know of no reputable company or firm that does both patent work and marketing work.  So before you consider working with any company that proclaims that they can help you both patent and market your invention please read The Truth About Invention Submission Companies. 

Good luck!

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