World Patent Marketing

World Patent Marketing

Company type	Private
Industry	Invention promotion
Founded	2014
Founder	Scott G. Cooper
Defunct	2017
Fate	Shut down by Federal Trade Commission due to fraud
Headquarters	Miami , United States
Key people	Scott G. Cooper (founder and CEO)
Products	Invention promotion services

World Patent Marketing (WPM), established in 2014 by Scott G. Cooper and based in Miami, operated under the guise of an invention-promotion company. However, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) later uncovered that it defrauded inventors attempting to commercialize their ideas. In May 2018, after an FTC inquiry, WPM was forced to cease operations, Cooper was prohibited from participating in the patent industry, and he was ordered to pay fines approaching $1 million.

WPM was recognized as part of a longstanding pattern of invention fraud schemes, with Cooper notably extracting significant amounts from individual clients. The firm deceived thousands by assuring profitable patent deals, promoting fabricated success narratives, charging hefty fees without fulfilling commitments, and employing intimidation tactics to silence dissatisfied customers. Additionally, WPM enlisted well-known figures for its advisory board and prominently featured them in marketing materials.

Business model

World Patent Marketing claimed to be a legitimate, vertically integrated manufacturer and engineer specializing in patented inventions. Its strategy focused on drawing inventors through television and online advertisements, frequently targeting military veterans by offering discounts and veteran-specific promotions. The company's website showcased an advisory board alongside misleading testimonials, fabricated success stories, and assertions of retail collaborations. WPM assured comprehensive patenting assistance for upfront payments ranging from $8,000 to more than $65,000. Yet after receiving payment, clients were often neglected, promised services were not rendered, and attempts to obtain refunds were met with legal intimidation.

In May 2017, the Federal Trade Commission documented WPM’s fraudulent tactics following a criminal probe. Prospective clients were led to believe their inventions were evaluated by a "Review Team" performing a "Global Invention Royalty Analysis" conducted by a "Harvard University & MIT Research Team." Potential customers received scripted calls praising their concepts and guaranteeing company support. The FTC determined that no such review team existed, no affiliations with Harvard or MIT were present, and that WPM never declined any product submissions.

WPM’s press releases featured eccentric inventions and purported alliances, including a "Masculine Toilet" designed for well-endowed men, a partnership with physicist Ronald Mallett aiming to create a time-travel device, and a website asserting proof of Bigfoot’s existence.

Suppression of complaints

According to the FTC, World Patent Marketing employed threats of criminal charges and intimidation to discourage complaints. For instance, Forbes reported on a woman who, after unsuccessful refund negotiations and filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, received an email from a company attorney accusing her refund request of extortion and warning of potential imprisonment for up to two years along with federal fines.

WPM also intimidated customers by claiming their security personnel were "ex-Israeli Special Ops trained in Krav Maga, one of the most lethal martial arts," highlighting their aggressive enforcement methods.

The FTC’s 2017 report included examples of threatening correspondence intended to deter grievances:

Hey Genius [ ] I understand you emailed one of my board members telling her you think my company lacks integrity and you think we might be a fraud. Just wanted to let you know that is probably going to be the most expensive email you ever sent. I hope it was worth it . . . meet my attorneys Eric Creizman and Andrew Levi [ ] they really enjoy meeting new people.

In early 2015, when negative posts about WPM appeared on Ripoff Report, advisory-board member Matthew Whitaker contacted the site operator using offensive language and threatened legal action as well as involvement from the Department of Homeland Security to remove what he labeled as "false" allegations.

Advisory board

The firm extensively utilized its advisory board as a tool to attract and exert influence over potential clients. In an email dated April 2016, CEO Scott J. Cooper referenced the participation of "former US Attorneys, members of President Obama's advisory council, military generals, famous doctors" to bolster the company's credibility. Sales scripts directed representatives to emphasize the "exceptional advisory board" and specifically mention Matthew Whitaker. Whitaker was also featured in promotional campaigns; for instance, in November 2014, Cooper contacted a branding agency suggesting the creation of a Wikipedia page leveraging Whitaker's name to enhance legitimacy.

In 2015, Israeli general Nitzan Nuriel became part of the advisory board and supported the inclusion of Ambassador Dell L. Dailey, highlighting their focus on safety, security, and economic growth. That same year, Omar Rivero, founder of Occupy Democrats, joined the advisory panel.

By 2017, former member Brian Mast revealed he had been added to the board without his approval. Professor Aileen M. Marty disclosed that she never received any patent proposals for evaluation and returned her remuneration after suspecting fraudulent activity, expressing remorse for her involvement with the company. Following the organization's closure, several advisory members refunded fees they had accepted; however, Whitaker reportedly did not respond to requests for reimbursement.

Shut down

In April 2016, customer Crystal Carlson uncovered that numerous inventors had fallen victim to scams by World Patent Marketing after receiving a threatening message from Cooper. She connected with the creator of "Teddy's Ballie Bumpers," a product promoted by the company as successful, who disclosed that his patent was denied and only 15 units had been sold despite substantial stock. Carlson assisted in coordinating affected inventors to file a class-action lawsuit in December 2016 accusing the company of deception, fraud, and breaches of the American Inventors Protection Act. Cooper’s firm denied responsibility under the Act and attributed product failures to the claimants themselves.

In January 2017, an undercover investigator from the FTC submitted an invention idea involving a recipe; sales personnel assured potential for ongoing profits even though recipes are nearly impossible to patent.

The FTC ordered the company's closure in March 2017, stating that consumers paid thousands of dollars to Cooper and his associated entities based on fabricated success stories and testimonials but received no actual services, leaving many financially devastated or having lost their life savings.

In 2018, Cooper was prohibited from engaging in invention-promotion enterprises. Inventors collectively invested $26 million in the company; however, only $2 million was recovered by the FTC.

See also

• Scams in intellectual property