Expert: George H. Morgan, P.E., Patent Agent - 5/18/2008

Question
I have contacted Patent Assistance WW and have submitted an idea.  They say they really like they idea for it's global appeal etc...  They have not asked for money yet.  They claim they look at a hundred ideas or so per day and ours was a stand out in the group. I asked if they would give me the names of some people they have done business with our give my name to another person to call me so I can hear how their experience with Patent Assistance went.  They said that due to confidentiality they could not.  It does not seem credible that they can not give my name to someone else and have that person call me.  Can you shed some light on this situation.  Thank you, Keith Karlo

Answer
Short answer: It is a scam.

Longer answer: You may be able to find the goods on them by going to my web site http://www.evansville.net/biz/patagent & go to the Inventors Resources page, and click on the Ron Riley scam alert page. As soon as we spot the same old scams with the new identities, the Riley organization researches them it, and the names are added, along with details. However, like roaches, they  reproduce & have offspring with new names, often with the same old addresses.

San Francisco addresses are very suspect. So are Florida & Pennsylvania locations.

The scams operate in very similar modes. You contact them. They pump y0u up on what a great idea you have. Then when you ask for references, they tell  you it is "confidential".

They take your money & don't deliver results.

You may have seen them advertise on this site. When I complained to the site about some of the scams advertising, they said that Google controlled who advertised, allexperts couldn't do anything about it.

Stict with people registered with the USPTO as patent practitioners such as Patent Agents or Patent Attorneys. Or, there is the Licensing Executives Society of the U.S. and Canada, link also on my web site. They are specialized, and you have to find one that hanles the type of invention you have.

The Ron Riley organization is a non profit inventors rights organizatin with a cracker jack discussiion group. If you look them up & contact them, off my web link, you can get a lot of information, free. Although, donations are appreciated if they help you.

I hope that helps.

George H. Morgan
Professional Engineer
Patent Agent