INVENTION MARKETING SCAMS

Unfortunately, there are a small number of ‘invention companies’ whose sole purpose is to hoodwink inventors into spending their hard-earned money for so-called marketing services. These scams typically target individuals with limited experience in the business, legal or commercial aspects of bringing an invention to market. They often promise access to manufacturers, retailers or investors, guaranteed licensing deals and rapid commercial success, creating an illusion of opportunity.

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In reality, their actions rarely extend beyond sending a brief email to a random list of companies, and that is usually where it ends. Marketing an invention is the most financially demanding and labour-intensive aspect of new product development. Achieving meaningful outcomes requires executing a multitude of steps including market research, prototype validation, product positioning, professional branding, outreach to relevant manufacturers, and negotiating licensing agreements. Each of these elements demands expertise, time and substantial financial resources. True proficiency in invention marketing and IP licensing cannot be purchased for a few thousand pounds. For genuine progress, inventors must work with professionals willing to engage on a commission or milestone-based structure, and such credible operators are extremely rare in the UK.

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Understanding the hallmarks of these scams and recognising warning signs is essential to avoid losing money and jeopardising intellectual property.

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COMMON CHARACTERISTICS OF INVENTION MARKETING SCAMS

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UNREALISTIC PROMISES

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Fraudulent companies often guarantee that an invention will become a huge commercial success regardless of its actual market potential or licensing viability. These promises are designed to attract inventors eager for quick results who lack experience in patent licensing, IP submissions or market realities. Such claims are never backed by verifiable data and exist solely to elicit upfront payments.

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UPFRONT MARKETING FEES 

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Scammers rarely operate on a commission or milestone payment model linked to measurable results - instead they demand large payments for services such as patent filing and marketing - which very rarely delivers any tangible results. Paying thousands upfront without deliverables is a hallmark of a scam and a common trap for inexperienced inventors.

 

As previously mentioned, true proficiency in invention marketing and IP licensing cannot be purchased for a few thousand pounds. Marketing is the most expensive disipline of the entire commercialisation process - and can typically can cost £10-15K per month to execute correct - its for this reason why inventors must work with professionals willing to engage on a commission or milestone-based structure, and such credible operators are extremely rare in the UK.

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NO DETAILED AND SPECIFIC MARKETING PLAN OR STRATEGY

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Fraudulent operators fail to provide a coherent marketing plan or strategy tailored to the invention. Instead, they rely on vague statements such as “we will contact manufacturers” or “undertake marketing activities” without explaining what these actions involve. Legitimate IP licensing and submission processes require detailed research on target companies, customised outreach strategies, timelines for engagement, and methods for tracking progress. Scammers have no strategic roadmap, and their so-called “marketing” often consists of sending mass emails to random contacts without follow-up or measurable results.

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Without a clear plan, there is no prioritisation of high-value potential partners, no alignment with market demand, and no evidence-based approach to validating the invention’s commercial appeal. Inventors are left with wasted time, wasted money, and the illusion of progress while their project remains invisible to serious licensees or manufacturers.

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NO PROTOTYPES AND NO MARKETING MATERIALS

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A critical warning sign of invention marketing scams is the absence of prototypes and professional marketing materials. Without tangible evidence, there is nothing to present to manufacturers, retailers or potential licensing partners. Would you purchase something, without seeing it, feeling it to access fit-for-purpose ? So why would a potential stakeholder ? Genuine invention marketing relies on demonstrable proof : working prototypes, polished presentations, technical documentation and market-ready materials that clearly communicate the invention’s value and commercial potential.

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Scammers do not professionally engage the market. They merely send a generic email to a generic list of unqualified stakeholders to fulfil their promise of “marketing the invention.” For the inventor, this approach is entirely ineffective because it ignores how stakeholders actually work and disregards the fact that decision-makers require tangible evidence of functionality, design and market readiness before considering any agreement - however for them, it is highly effective strategy (SCAM), that allows them to extract the majority of the upfront fee as profit. To them, less is more !

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The absence of prototypes and marketing materials signals a lack of professionalism and expertise. Real marketing and licensing efforts involve investment in design, production, testing and communication. Firms that request upfront fees without producing these essentials are merely prioritising their own financial gain over the inventor’s commercial success.

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LACK OF INDUSTRY CONNECTIONS

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Fraudulent operators often promise direct access to manufacturers, retailers, or investors but cannot provide concrete examples, references, or verifiable contacts. Real licensing and IP submission work depends on established networks and documented relationships. Without these connections, even a technically sound invention cannot be introduced effectively to the market.

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Companies claiming to facilitate licensing without credible industry links are essentially selling empty promises. Their outreach rarely goes beyond sending generic emails or making unverified phone calls. For inventors, the absence of verified connections means the invention is never genuinely exposed to potential licensees, leaving the project dormant despite apparent “marketing activity.”

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