Shop4Patents

I am a client with PTI. I was tring to find there number on the web and came across all of these sites sayin that they were a ripoff. What is that all about. I was told to send a payment of $795 dollars for Patent search on my invention. I already sent them $295. If you can please send me some info on this subject. I would like to know if they are also runnin a scam on me!!! Thank you and have a blessed day!

KATHLEEN, You can contact them and tell them that if you don’t get your money back, that you’ll contact good morning america. This company was on this show earliar this year. do that and let mew know.

AFTER READING THESE COMPLAINTS, I AM SO GLAD THAT I DIDN’T FOLLOW THROUGH WITH DAVISONS! DOES ANYBODY KNOW OF ANY LEGIT COMPANYS TO GO THROUGH? I HAVE A GREAT IDEA THAT I AM DYING TO PATENT. ANY SUGGESTIONS?

CUTOSBABE@YAHOO.COM

I recently sent PTI $12,300.00. I was promised the same things as everyone else. Do you know of a way I can get my money back? I am sick to hear all of the bad press coming off of this company.

Regina Wilkerson

please reply:regiredding@yahoo.com

PTI has been shut down by government officials. Their offices in VA, NY and NV were raided last week. All PTI business assets as well as the personal assets of Julian Gumpel (owner) have been frozen.

My husband was also ripped off by this company, we paid over $ 10,000.00 in 2004. After 1 year, he started getting letters from PTi, that during one of the trade shows, there were four companies interested in his idea. We followed their guide that the provided to us when we signed on, we did each step, all of a sudden we get a letter from one company that said they were never ever interested in our product. The attorney they provided us told us that he submitted my husbands idea to the USPTO office for doucmentation, they have no record at all of his invention. As of today, we have not heard from anyone, we have left over 50 messages in 3 weeks, with both the New York office and the Nevada office. I found out the attorney generals office is investigating PTI, and we are adding on to their complaint.

My problem is the same as everyone else’s I sent them $30,000 US and never heard from them again. I can not get anyone to respond to any correspondence and I have tried every venue known to man. Good luck to all.Hope someone gets money back.
The more people who put info out there the least likely it will continue to happen.

to all lets start a class action sued if you would do this call me at 945 494 9999

If you’ve paid $ to PTI call the NY Attorney Generals Office and The Federal Trade Commission. This is your only hope of getting back any of your money.

I was on the verge of being scammed out of $10,000 as well, however since I sent my payment in on Jan. 18th via certified letter, it appears as though the raid prevented me from being ripped off, it was strange to watch my letter be forwarded to Grand Rapids, Michigan. The law firm of Stenger and Stenger (Grand Rapids) has been appointed to receive all documents directed to PTI. They are holding all information and creating an inventory. This firm was appointed to do so, they are not representing PTI. A hearing has been set for Feb. 13th, but the temporary injunction against PTI is only that, “temporary”, pending the judges ruling. My heart goes out to any of you who have been taken by this company. Here is to hoping that justice will be dealt out swiftly and that the punishment is prison.

Im in the same boat how do we get our money back?

PTI is made up of dozens of salespeople who worked for several other invention scam companies that were busted by The Federal Trade Commission in Opereation Mousetrap. These guys are pros at scamming and having been ripping people off for many years. They’ll say anything on the phone to get your money. Anyone who has ever asked PTI how many clients have made more money than they paid them knows that PTI’s success rate is zero. When asked on ABC’s Good Morning America to identify one client who has made a profit, PTI’s owner, Julian Gumpel said “I’ll have to do a great deal of research”.

Check out story and video from ABC http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=1980639&page=2

I have recently done business with Patent and Trademark Institute of America. I did some research, and searched the Better Business Bureau for any leads. At that time I found out about 20 resolved claims. I figured that 20 claims out of potentially thousands of customers wasn’t SO bad. Anyway, I sent $1295.00 to them for their press kit. I knew I was dealing with a bunch of crooks when they could not heed a simple request: I do business through my Post Office Box and I received a phone call requiring an alternate address because UPS does not deliver to PO boxes. I returned the call and stated that they need to find another courier considering I had paid $1300 dollars. The guy tried to tell me some lie about how they’re a big company and they have contracts with shipping companies; yeah ok, just send the package with your omnipotence. Long story short, I got them to send it to my PO box using United States Postal Service. They sent it in a UPS shipping box that was cut up, turned inside out, and taped back together into box form with a Fedex Label pasted on the front. I could not believe how sloppy they were. Additionally, the press kit they sent me was not even collated properly and a quarter of the pages were outside of the rings. Overall, I find their presentation to be inferior in quality; I could do a better job and they’re supposed to be professionals. I have not heard from them since my project manager called me and told me I need about $50,000 for worldwide protection. This is really too bad; I wish I knew of a legitimate way to have my item patented. If I had the resources, I would make PTI pay for their practices. Until then, we all gripe…

My dad and I were also taken for $6,000. Has anyone dealt with a man named Mac Field? I traced his cell number and that’s registered to a Randy C Bragg. I think everyone should call that lawyers number a few excerpts back-as a single mom I would like to get my money back too but at the very least, these people need to be punished. You cannot hurt good people this way and the only way to make sure something gets done is for ALL to get involved. The more complaints- the louder we sound!

The best way to get your money back is to contact the media and also file a complaint with the FTC. If a group of PTI clients work together and get another media story on TV that would greatly increase the pressure on PTI and government officials. It will help you get your money back! Media pressure works!!! Perhaps ABC – Good Morning America would consider doing a follow up story! If you haven’t already done so, contact the Federal Trade Commission and file a complaint!!!

Hi

I am in Australia and got conned out of the US$1295 which was over AU$1500 here. They also promised me stuff and now I am broke.

Any ideas on how I could get money back in Australia? Is this possible?

Thanx

There should be a class action lawsuit against p.t.i. u.l.c. For failure to complete a business contract. Breach of full contract.

I have sent an e-mail to ABC news asking if they would run another story about the PTI if I get any response I will post it here.

Good luck everyone I think we will need it

Like so many other people, I was trying to get a hold of PTI, after just giving them Us$6495. pluse the US$995 we already sent them. My partner and I are in Canada and I have just passed along this site to her. I also came across all this info quite by accident too. I will contact the Attorney General’s Office and the Federal Trade Commission. Does anyone know if we can take action of some sort in Canada too, as they are obviously doing business here as in other countries. I find this all so disappointing, I really thought we were on to a good thing. But I guess as the saying goes,\
“if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is” or something to that effect. Elaine in Canada.

My suggestion to those of you who have not already lost your money to PTI (or another related scammer) is to contact the USPTO. Please, please do not consider utilizing any of these so-called Patent help companies. They cannot be trusted. You and I should have faith in our local government and that they will not scam us–so contact the United States Patent Office and do it yourself. Don’t fall victim to these alleged “patent help” companies–no matter what they say, they cannot be trusted.

All calls going to The Patent and Trademark Institute are now being directed to the law firm of Stenger and Stenger. Action needs to be brought against the owners, directors, and sales people who perpetuate inventor fraud. If not, they will start or go to another invention company and continue to rip people off for years to come. If you have paid money, call Stenger & Stenger and file a complaint today with the FTC.

I to was ripped off by PTI to the tune of approximately $11,000. If anyone is starting a class action suit against them I definately would like to be a part of it. Mean while I guess I will be contacting the law firm of Stenger and Stenger.

Guess I am part of a pretty large crowd here. They got me for $11,500 very hard earned dollars, and even worse than that is the time they wasted trying to get my invention to market. I have an idea, why don’t we all find out where Julian Gumpel lives and schedule a time to meet outside of his house. I think I can find a way to beat $11,500 worth of crap out of him. Per the law firm, there is a hearing in march to determine if this asshole is going to be allowed to resume his business. I would be glad to initiate a class action suit against them, since all assets were frozen there is a chance we might get something back. Personally I don’t want money, I hate a thief, I would much rather get a pound of flesh.

Ken Pine
Orlando FL

PTI offered the same “contract of services” to people who paid $2000, $10,000 or $30,000. Regardless of the amount paid everyone got the same thing anyway. NOTHING! Their goal was to say whatever was necessary in order to get the most money possible. Their services were bogus. They can’t produce one successful client or product that is legitimate. Tens of millions of dollars have been stolen from thousands of people. The sales people who committed this fraud and hide behind fake names should be brought to the light of the law. When will justice be served???

comment by Joe Falvey

I have read your comments and simpathize with all that worked with a co. that we thought was on the up and up,
Now all we can do is wait on justice from another soure.
Please please put stenger& stenger lawyers address and phone no on the web
so we can unite and hope that we can get our money back. Good Luck.
Lets get these people out and feather and tar them brfore we hang them up to dry. If yor can get the no of S&S please get it to me at
bobbiejoe52@yayoo.com thanks joe

I personally like Ken’s idea! But I believe that all the salespeople were going under fake names. I have traced our sales guy’s cell phone number and I believe that I found his real name and address. Just so happens that he lives only 2 1/2 hrs away from us- no where near where he said he was- shocker!! You can all do that on people finder.com. Good luck!!

Salesmen are not accountable in this case, unless they have been recorded on tape by the feds to have blatently lied. Your best bet is to go after the owner, julien gumbel, and his assets.

Salesmen are not accountable in this case, unless they have been recorded on tape by the feds to have blatently lied. Your best bet is to go after the owner, julien gumbel, and his assets. Dan K is right, call the Stenger law firm and file a complaint so that this asshole is not allowed back in business, and maybe we can get some of our money back.

please keep me informed ,i will be contacting the lawers.

Hey Y’all, here is another site that has some information about folks in the same boat as us.

http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/ripoff132118.htm

Ken- I live in Wesley Chapel Fl…and the cell number I traced for this bozo is under a different name- but being from New Jersey originally, I REALLY like your “friends” already!

Well, after being unable to get onto PTI’s website and having mail returned Saturday, I find this information and am in the same boat with all of you. I did call the 800-690-4332, left message. I think they need to be put under the jail after we get our money back. Will keep checking here for updates. We all should call the FTC, NY Attorney General asap.

If you haven’t done so, you might want to file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission about PTI. You can call Phil Stenger’s office, the attorney that has all PTI’s information and money. I left a message yesterday and received a call today from his office. Stenger’s office number is on one of the comments above.

I need to let you all know, it will be hard to sue many of the Full Disclosure Closers from PTI and Inventors Helpline because most of them used fake names. I use to work for PTI, and I may still have a list of names and numbers. I also believe I have their email addresses. I have heard from a reliable source that one of them is heading off to Mexico soon until the heat goes off. Wm

Hello to our Inventors:
We at http://www.PatentHelpBlog.com red your comments about the “experiences” you all had with PTI, and decided to become more involved and do our best to assist.
As a first step, in order to be more organized and more efficient we suggest moving ahead as a “group” of inventors and combine our efforts.
We suggest you all email us your basic contact information: Name, email, phone#, address and brief description about your “case”. This info will be presented to a lawyer (and in case requested also to the New York Attorney General), who will advise you on what should be the next step/move.
Please email us above mentioned info and any other idea you might have on how you suggest we proceed on this matter.
Email to Dan at blog@shop4patents.com

Just wondering up here in Canada, what is the latest news on the March 13 th court date etc. Also if there is a class action suit being launched my partner and I would like to be a part of it. I am as mad as hell. Elaine

I have received e-mail from attorney’s office that March 13th date was changed to April 30th. They have added 3 more defendants to the contempt
case.

Does anyone know if they provided us with real Trade names and patents or are they fake? I am fairly into the invention process with them and want to know if they did anything at all for me. I am corresponding with someone in China who is interested in my invention and I wonder if that is all fake or did they really set me up with someone? My most recent email from the China rep says they are trying to see if my invention will work with their line. Can I assume I am no longer under the contract with PTI and work as a free agent with China? What if they never aquired my patent and someone can now steal my invention? Does anyone know of a REAL inventors help program I can contact?

BBarden77@aol.com

PTI consists of salespeople and an owner who have been in the invention business for over a dozen years. Some have been in the invention promotion business for over 20 years. The message from regulators and government officials to the invention business has been extremely weak.
Only once has there been criminal charges brought against an invention promoter. However that was for tax matters and not for fraud related to
deceptive sales practices. The owners and sales people in the invention business know this. They fully expect civil penalties and are willing to take them. They know that they can make HUGE sums of money before a civil action results. If their company is forced to shut down they often open a new one (or the sales people go work for another invention firm). This has been the cycle in the invention business since the early 1970′s. Raymond Lee Inc. – Invention Marketing Inc.(now Invention Submission Corp.)- American Inventors Corp.- The Patent and Trademark Institute, etc., etc. This invention promotion scam is nothing new. In fact, “The Invention Promotion Act of 1999″ just further insulated and protected these firms. Most try to wrap themselves around this law in their written materials. However that’s not where the bulk of the fraud takes place. The fraud occurs on the phone when the sales people lie and misrepresent, telling people what ever is necessary in order to get their money. Invention promoters have historically delivered nothing and left people with nothing more than broken dreams and bank accounts. As long as civil action is the only deterent, invention promotion fraud will continue to be perpetrated on the American public. Tens of thousands of unsuspecting individuals will be forever scammed out of millions of dollars every year. Contact the FTC and the media, the NY Attorney General, join the class action suit, ETC. Get involved. It’s time to hold the owner and sales people of PTI accountable.

FTC Charges Invention Promotion Swindlers with Contempt

Feds Say Scam Took More Than $60 Million from 17,000 Consumers

March 19, 2007

The Federal Trade Commission has filed a civil contempt action against four individuals and eight business entities for allegedly operating a fraudulent invention promotion business in violation of a court order.

The individuals were employed by International Product Design Inc., which the FTC charged with fraudulent business practices in 1997. A court order issued in 1998 prohibited Julian Gumpel, Darrell Mormando, and Greg Wilson from deceptively marketing invention promotion services, but Gumpel later revived the same scam under the name, “Patent and Trademark Institute of America” (PTI), the FTC charged.

For a fee of $895 to $1,295, PTI promised to evaluate the marketability and patentability of inventors’ ideas, but its evaluations were almost always positive and were not meaningful, according to the FTC.

For a fee of $5,000 to $45,000, PTI’s clients were offered legal protection and assistance to obtain commercial licenses for their inventions. They also were told that PTI would help them earn substantial royalties from their inventions, but PTI did not help consumers license their inventions, and clients did not earn royalties.

The FTC alleges that PTI’s business practices violated the court order, which prohibited the defendants from falsely promising to evaluate invention ideas and falsely claiming that consumers would profit financially if they bought PTI’s invention promotion services.

The FTC also alleges that PTI never sent consumers the “Affirmative Disclosure” form required by the order; the form should have disclosed PTI’s non-existent track record in bringing inventions to market.

On January 8, 2007, the Commission initiated contempt proceedings against Gumpel and eight corporate entities under his control: Technical Lithographers Inc., d/b/a Patent and Trademark Institute of America (PTI), United Licensing Corporation, International Patent Advisors Inc., Datatech Consulting Inc., International Product Marketing Inc., Unicorp Consulting Inc., d/b/a/ UNI Corp. Inc, Azure Communications Inc., and London Communications Inc.

On January 10, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia issued an order placing PTI in court receivership pending the outcome of the contempt litigation. According to a report prepared by the receiver, PTI has taken approximately $60 million from more than 17,000 consumers since 2000 but could not identify a single successful consumer.

On March 9, the court issued an order to show cause why Michael Fleisher, Wilson, and Mormando, a/k/a Darrell Johnson, should not also be held in contempt for violating the court order issued in 1998. The FTC alleges that they knew about and were subject to the court order, but repeatedly violated it in their roles as managers and salesman for PTI. A hearing on the FTC’s charges against all of the defendants is scheduled for April 30, 2007.

The FTC has established a phone line for consumers who may have been harmed by PTI’s conduct. Consumers may call 202-326-2926 for more information.

Wow!! Now theres over 80 responces about P T I and other companys.
I was # 7 not long ago.
I hope there`s a good out come for all of us.I have put my invention to
another company that is a long time member with the BBB.With no complaints.
See what happens.E-Mail RAMPART36@aol.com

DO WE ALL NEED PRIVATE LAWERS TO GET OUR CASH BACK?

I was also a client of PTI. I sent them almost $28,000. I would love to see them go to prison. I am just like most people, I work hard for my money. I really hope that we will be able to get this money back.

4-19-2007

My best friend and I were also “clients” of PTI. We sent them $12k. Im all for a class action lawsuit, I want my damn money back! And Im very interested in everyones “friends”. Everyone needs to band together and take these heartless, insignificant weasels down! Let me know what we can do. afpadilla@frontiernet.net
Amy Padilla P.O. Box 758 Eagar,AZ 85925
1-928-333-3748

Keep me posted. Amy and Danette

Hello to everyone who was scammed by PTI and Julian Gumpel..
There is good news and bad news. First the good news. It took me more than a month of calling people… including Strenger and Strenger and the attorney FOR the FTC to find out when and where the hearing on Apr. 30th would take place. But here it is:
When: April 30th, 2007. 10:00AM.
Where: US District Court.. 101 Court House Square, Alexandria VA.
Sixth Floor, Court Room 601.
Attorney for the GOV. is Steven Gordon.

I suggest, if you can get there, you might want to talk to Julian Gumpel himself as he and/or his representative will be there.

As far as Strenger and Strenger are concerned: Do NOT look to them for any
resolution regarding your claim. They are just as evil as PTI. This receivership business is just a legal tool for PTI and the other defendants to hide behind. They are not looking out for your intrests any more than PTI is. The only recource is a class action law suit naming PTI and its’ related entities laible for misrepresentation.
Sara E.D. Fazio, one of the attorneys at Strenger and Strenger is as big of a liar as any sales rep. from PTI. She would not even give me the case number for the hearing date. Don’t believe the case number quoted on the PTI web site: 1:97-cv-01114-avb. That is the case from 1998 where PTI and Julian Gumpel were found guilty and fined $250,000 for misrepresentation of claims regarding patentability.

I hope someone goes to the hearing from here. I need to know the outcome of the case.

As many of you me and my wife have also been scammed i diden’t know anything until today while trying to contact pti and to my suprise i find out about this ouch!i’ve lost 12k wich wasen’t even my money but investor who believed in me I like other am at a lost for words and have to try to find a way to pay this back and still have people call me a friend.I filed a complaint with fedral Trade commision who also don’t have a lot of answers
so for all that have lost a great deal i say we stand strong and fight togeather numbers are our only chance they can’t beat pursistance so don’t give up or we will all lose. Someone will pay!

thanks jeff from ridgecrest ca

It juss amazes me how me and my partners fell for something so obvious..I understand that everyone here in the same boat, but on the same token we are all adults and this was a risk we chose to take..I hope that the justice system prevails for once and if anyone receives any money back, please contact me and tell me how you did it…..

Has anyone heard anything about the hearing? What happened 4/30/07?

Besides all you people that waited for patents that you never got, what about the people that waited for their trademarks? Ms. Merri Deluca was in charge of trademarks, I call her time & time again & all I got was a run around. Why was every body else charge wit misrepresentation but what about her, why does she get to continue to ride on her high horse? How many people are still waiting for your trademarks due to her incompetence? Mr. Gumpel, Mr. Fleisher, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Wilson are all being made to pay fines, fees & penalties for their discrepancies, so why is she being overlooked? Will I ever see my trademark? How many people out there are waiting for a trademark? All I see is blogs for your patents.. .. what about the employees that have lost their jobs, has anyone considered their loses, their loses are just as large as ours. Has it been overlooked that it was a possibility that some of the people that are & are not being charged knew the truth about the discrepancies of this so called company..

they lost the case…

What happened with the case? Who lost? Are we going to get our money back?

The numbers are as follows 1-877-382-4357 or 202-326-2222. Good Luck to all who were ripped off. I’ll be making my call tomorrow.

I was ripped off too..out of about 6 grand. And i’m pissed as hell. I got these numbers and im gonna call tomorrow to see what i can do about getting my money back from those M.F ers. Anyone know of a suit going on that i can get in on…i want my money back.
Help if you can with any information.

PTI sales people and management knew exactly what was going on. They all knew that they were operating in clear violation of the FTC order that they signed in ’98 and that they were providing worthless services. That FTC order is a matter of public record. More than 17,000 people have been ripped off to the tune of $60 million. The sales people and management of PTI have amassed personal fortunes worth millions. That money can/is being pursued by government agencies. Most of the PTI sales people are currently working for another scam invention company. Their fraudulent activity needs to be stopped or thousands more unsuspecting inventors will lose their hard earned savings. Civil penalties alone are not enough to stop these scam artists. If you want restitutuion you need to contact the FTC and Attorney General’s Office.

IF YOU WANT TO READ ABOUT THE COURT CASE, LOG ON TO http://WWW.FTC.GOV THEN CLICK ON ACTIONS, THEN ALL ACTIONS BY DATE. THE DATE IS MARCH 19,2007.

I am also one of the many who was ripped off by PTi. I went so far as to send them the full amount of $10,000.00.
They stayed in contact with me nearly everyday, then all of a sudden I couldn’t contact anyone. They even sent me a patent pending certificate.
After many months of not being able to contact them my daughter told me she had heard that they were a fraud.

since last year when the story came out on good morning america i had warned some indivdiuals about the practices of pti and not many people listened. i worked there for some time and saw some of what went on and was surprised to hear how much money the company actually made in these last 6 yrs because there were many clients who got the run around or had to pay more money to get services done that they should’ve gotten for free the original time. then there were employees that were let go or quit b/c they wanted/entitlted to a raise. i’m sure everyone on here knows the saying what goes around comes around-well that’s what happens. god doesn’t like ugly and the way that clients and employees was treated wasn’t fair. yes there were some consultants that were sharks but then there were others that was just doing what the rest of us are doing, supporting our families. i’m not justifying all of their actions but there were some honest consultants that were affected in the same manor as we were.

man this hurt alot of people me included however once again the federal gov has allowed this crook to start up another scam they should be the ones who have to pay back every dollor taken from us and should have to bear the cost of funding our goals what a world some people should be locked up forever and a day mr gumpel i’ll find you one day

Mara…

Among the components of a PC system, the printer is the last inthe…

I am also a victim of this Company, I am canadian and I have been taken for $11,000 USD. I do not hold my breath to ever seeing any of my money back. To the ex-employee who is trying to say it is all our faults for not doing our homework, all I have to say is obviously you fitted right in with these crooks. Is there any decent people doing business out there? I hope GUMPEL and company all go to Jail. I have learned a valuable lesson and will never trust an internet company again. To anyone thinking about using an invention promoting company, please read all the victim’s messages above.

thank you

PTI

is a rip off
nearly $10,000 later still can’t patent my idea
because of them possible took my idea with a twist

Gave these guys $5000
havent heard a thing in over a year You would think they would call and want there other $5000 ??

For Release: September 6, 2007

Invention Promotion Swindlers Ordered to Pay $60 Million in Scheme that Defrauded 17,000 Consumers

The operators of an invention promotion business, which a judge called “one grand con game to take money away from consumers,” have been ordered to pay $60 million for violating a 1998 court order.

“By changing the name of their company, these individuals thought they could continue to make false promises and take inventors’ money, but they didn’t get away with it,” said Lydia Parnes, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “This scam should also remind inventors to question the assurances of promotion firms. No one can guarantee an invention’s commercial success.”

Under the 1998 order, Julian Gumpel, Darrell Mormando, Michael Fleisher, and Greg Wilson were barred from misrepresenting the services they offered to amateur inventors, but they revived their scam under a new name, the Patent & Trademark Institute (PTI). For a fee of $895 to $1,295, PTI promised to evaluate the marketability and patentability of inventors’ ideas, but its evaluations were almost always positive and were not meaningful, according to the FTC. For a fee of $5,000 to $45,000, PTI’s clients were offered legal protection and assistance to obtain commercial licenses for their inventions. They also were told that PTI would help them earn substantial royalties from their inventions, but PTI did not help consumers license their inventions, and clients did not earn royalties.

In January 2007, the FTC charged the defendants with civil contempt and obtained a temporary asset freeze against PTI and its owner, Gumpel, and the appointment of a receiver over PTI. In March, the FTC added Fleisher, Mormando, and Wilson as contempt defendants, alleging that they participated in the order violations as managers and salesmen.

On May 3, 2007, after a four-day hearing, U.S. District Court Judge Gerald Bruce Lee held the defendants in contempt, finding, among other things, that PTI failed to disclose to consumers that none of its clients had successfully marketed an invention. The judge concluded that consumers were defrauded of $61 million through “lies and misstatements.”

On July 12, 2007, the court permanently banned Gumpel, Mormando, and Wilson from engaging, in any way, in the marketing of invention promotion services. The court did not enter a ban against Fleisher because he did not sign the original order, although the court found that he knew about it and was subject to it. On August 27, 2007, the court entered an order holding PTI and Gumpel jointly liable for a $61 million judgment, and holding Fleisher, Mormando, and Wilson jointly and severally liable for the judgment to the extent of $59,682,958.

PTI operated through several corporate entities, including original defendants Azure Communications, Inc. and London Communications, Inc., and through United Licensing Corp., International Patent Advisors, Inc., Datatech Consulting, Inc., International Product Marketing, Inc., and Unicorp Consulting, Inc. These companies also were held in contempt and ordered to pay $61 million.

The Commission appreciates the substantial assistance in this case provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.

The FTC has established a phone line for consumers who may have been harmed by PTI’s conduct. Consumers may call 202-326-2926 for more information.

The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish or to get free information on any of 150 consumer topics, call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357), or use the complaint form at http://www.ftc.gov/ftc/complaint.htm. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 1,600 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Frank Dorman
Office of Public Affairs
202-326-2674
STAFF CONTACT:
Elizabeth Tucci
Bureau of Consumer Protection
202-326-2402

Matthew Wilshire
Bureau of Consumer Protection
202-326-2976

So what does this mean? None of these guys have $60million. Where are they going to get it from? So in other words all the people who paid money are not going to get any of it back after the attorneys have been paid.

Correction:

In the above post, last paragraph, the line that reads:
“Patent law states that you are forever bared from getting a patent on an invention that was in public use or on sale or published more that one year prior to your date of invention.”

Should read:

“Patent law states that you are forever bared from getting a patent on an invention that was in public use or on sale or published more that one year prior to your date of FILING FOR A PATENT APPLICATION.”

please read the first link on the left- http://www.inventorshelpline.com/pages/index.htm

HAS ANYONE HEARD ANY INFO ON THE LAW SUIT. I HAVE LEFT 2 MESSAGES FOR SARAH AT STENGER LAW OFFICE, BUT HAVE YET TO RECEIVE A RETURN CALL.

I had a similar experience as most here,promising the world,long turn arounds on everything they did and lots of money.One thing that I did though was call them all of the time.I dont know if my diligence worked,but I do have an idea at the uspto,i am awaiting my first office action.They did get me a good patent attorney and a utility patent,but they got me for a european patent costing 12-14000 dollars.All in all I hope they get what they deserve and that maybeye somebody out there will help everybody that has been hurt by this organazation.

Hey guys,

Have been gone for a while. Financial circumstances dictated I move to S. Florida, but I am back on track now. Who is ready for a class action suit? These son of bitches took me for eleven thousand plus dollars. I would very much like some back. there has to be a lawyer out there somewhere that will take the case. the name is Ken Pine, my phone number is 786-728-2600. I wanted to do this a while ago, but between a divorce and a hurricane here in florida, (they cost about the same), I was not able to pursue this,,,,I think I am ready. anyone that wants to discuss this, please call me. Heck, I live in Miami, if I cant find a lawyer here, then they can’t be found

Ken Pine

I had a company sign the non disclosure agreement,so i guess it doesnt mean nothing now.If anyone has an answer let me know,if not,im going to my attorney!

thanks,mark

Man, we have been under a rock I guess. A little over 2 years ago, we gave PTI about 12K to patent our idea. We just now found out that they were ‘permanently enjoined from conducting business’. That was exact wording from Mr. Sung I. Oh’s letter. His letter also stated that our patent is very similar to others.

Has anyone started filing a class action suit?

What is your email address Joe?

Hey Jack –

my email address is:
jonodak@gmail.com

Look forward to hearing from you!

-Joe

Hey Y’all,

I am still interested in a class action suit. I need to hear from all of you tho to see how many folks are interested. I lost $1300, would be glad to get any of it back. I can be reached at 786-728-2600, call anytime. I am in the miami area, so if I can’t find a lawyer here, then a lawyer can’t be found.

Call me

Ken

Any one with any info on how to get any money back please call me 843-412-6691 or uncle.rob@comcast.net

they got me for $13,000.00 they suck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

haven’t checked this site in awhile. has anyone heard from FTC or the lawyer’s office (Philip Stenger) that is mentioned in this blog back in feb/march 2007? trying now to do this on my own with government patent office, but like all of you need my $6000 back. i have a ref number with FTC, but can’t get through to talk to anyone. has anyone talked with the FTC?

What techniques did they use to hook each of u?

oh btw. other invention companies charge about the same ( in my investigations), and don’t always provide patents.

So there may be more here than meets the eye.

I haven’t ruled them in or out yet.
still shopping

i would like to know more about this “requires filing the appropriate docs with the “uspto”" on 3.5, 7.5 and 11.5 years!?? julian gumpel not only got my money, lots of it, but never gave me this info and after all these years i am just now finding out about it… it took me nine years to hand this punk my money just to get suckered and now i do not know who to trust anymore…. everybody wants more money??? i will burn my patent before i get ripped off again…. and i would like to have thirty second s with this julian…..

In response to Charles Kirby,

I do not know what amount of money you are being asked to pay, but the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) requires that you pay maintenance fees on an ISSUED PATENT to keep it in force. The maintenance fees must be paid at 3.5, 7.5, and 11.5 years after issuance of the patent. Failure to pay the fees will result in the expiration of the patent.

Currently, for a small entity, these maintenance fees are:

3.5 years=$465
7.5 years=$1,180
11.5 years=$1,955

These fees are charged by the U.S. government through the USPTO. I could not agree more that these invention submission companies are frauds and a complete waste of your money. However, patent maintenance fees are completely legit and are a necessity in order to avoid expiration of your patent.

Now, if a company is asking you to pay maintenance fees that are far in excess of what I have outlined above, be suspicious. A company may charge a small fee to cover the expense of them processing and handling your payment to the USPTO, but it shouldn’t be much.

Alternatively, you can just pay the fees yourself directly to the USPTO. The fees for a small entity (which I would venture to say everyone on this board is) will be exactly what I have outlined above. The USPTO does change their fees every year so these fees may be slightly higher a year from now.

If you are afraid of getting burned again, pay the money directly to the USPTO yourself. Alternatively, you may decide that your patent is not as valuable as you had predicted. In such a case, you can simply not pay the maintenance fees and your patent will expire.

I would be glad to help you further if possible. Post your email address if you have any other questions and I will do my best to reply and help you out.

Its not often you get free legal advice from a registered patent attorney, which I am. I have just seen too many people get ripped off by these scams. However, the necessity of paying maintenance fees in the amounts I outlined above is not a scam.

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i dont know how to transfer what the ftc sent me to this site but if you want i can email the ftc message to you about what is going on with the case contact me at shroommaster61@yahoo.com

What a bunch of scam artists! Has anyone heard anything about getting their money back? I heard that it was “highly unlikely”.

IT IS VERY UNLIKELY THAT WE WILL EVERY SEE ANY OF OUR MONEY. IT’S SAD TO SAY THAT THIS IS THE WAY OUR COUNTRY IS RUN. THESE CROOKS FROM PTI ARE ALOUD TO SCAM INNOCENT PEOPLE OUT OF THERE HARD EARNED MONEY, AND WHILE THEY ARE SITTING IN THEIR SUITE WINING AND DINING THEMSELVES, ALL THEY WILL GET IS A SLAP ON THE HAND AND TOLD NOT TO DO IT AGAIN.

I GUESS I COULD SPENT $10,000 FOR A LAWYER TO TRY AND GET BACK WHAT? MAYBE $500 OR A $1000. IS IT WORTH IT? I DON’T THINK SO. I WISH JUST ONCE THESE SCAM ARTISTS WOULD RECEIVE WHAT THEY HAVE COMING TO THEM. EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THEY HAVE DONE THIS AND IT PROBALLY WON’T BE THE LAST.
DAN

Stenger & Stenger (http://www.stengerlaw.com/)is handling the case and all they gave me was this number (202)326-5926. I called it today and it still saying the same thing when I called 1 year ago.

I’m so lost and confused. I’m about to give up on this.

Someone please help! $10,000 is a lot of money to me.

Here is the contact info for the law firm that is handling the receivership of PTI. I sent them an email a while back and they directed me to the same USPTO number with the recorded message. It was last updated on Jan 11, 2008 so I don’t know what the status is now but here is the contact info. Maybe if we swamp them with requests, they will give us a little more info:

Sara Kandelac
Paralegal
Stenger & Stenger P.C.
4095 Embassy Drive, Ste. A
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
Telephone: 616-940-1190
Facsimile: 616-940-1192

does anyone know if any people got money back from the scam company PTI I am also in the hole for $5,000 Please let me know thank you Jim

my e-mail is jdhservices@aol.com

i gave them 5,295 and now i hear they are shut down. i received a check for $300. what about the other $5000? i new it was to good to be true.i also filed a complaint against them and am hoping i will get some more $$ back. good luck to you all who got wrapped up in this………

I would like to know if I will ever see my patent given back to me. I was suppose to patent this idea and somehow someone in my church stoled it from me and then in 2006 my idea was place right in front of me. I remember sharing my idea with four so call christian business men and low and behold my idea was place right in front of my face. and the news came and I wanted to tell the new reporter that it was my idea and it was stoled from me. I have no idea how this happen . I beg the company to wait until I would save enough fund to patent it and look to me that the company went along with the person who stoled it from me and got it patent. Now am struggling every day of my life and I wonder if I will get any fund from the lawsuit . I believe there is so many who have been rid off the we just might get a penny each.

I even file a complaint to the united state patent trademark but I haven’t heard anything from them.

Spent 25000.00 haven’t seen anything happening. Want my Patent…..

I spent 25000.00 where is it.. In 2005 haven’t seen anythig happening..

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