Inventing in Canada

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In the News (Various links)   Important Information Three Plead Guilty in $58 Million Invention Promotion Scam. Ringleader sentenced to 8-years in prison with NO early parole. Group swindled 34,000 amateur inventors by promising to promote their inventions, but did little more than take their money and sell them fake patent searches, fake market reports, worthless patents, and sham marketing services. (On www.masslive.com)   ...aaaand another one bites the dust!! Invention promotion scammer gets three years in prison. (From www.masslive.com)   The Mugger of Invention [Daily Mirror newspaper carries out undercover investigation of various invention-promotion companies - including Invention Submission Corporation and International Technology Exchange of Dublin, Ireland] (On www.uiausa.com)   TV reporter carries out undercover investigation of Invention Submission Corporation. (From www.thepittsburghchannel.com)   Invention Submission Corporation Charged with Making False and Deceptive Claims: FTC Asks Court to Order Consumer Redress (From U.S. Federal Trade Commission website www.ftc.gov)   Invention Submission Corporation Agrees to Pay $1.2 Million in Consumer Redress to Settle FTC Charges it Misrepresented Invention Promotion Services (From U.S. Federal Trade Commission website www.ftc.gov)   TV reporter examines failure rate of Invention Submission Corporation [MPG video clip]. (From www.khou.com)   Inventor Beware [Excellent 5 minute video clip] (From www.techtv.com)   Invention promotion company's failure rate described [Article]. (From www.techtv.com)   TV reporters carry out undercover investigation of Davison and Associates (also known as "Inventegration") and Invention Submission Corporation. U.S. Federal Trade Commission asks judge to freeze Davison's assets and return $7 million to its customers. (From www.thepittsburghchannel.com)   FTC v Davison & Associates [Company is now operating as "Inventegration"] (From U.S. Federal Trade Commission website www.ftc.gov)   Ace investigator Tony Hetherington looks at ideas firm [Reporter digs into background of ITE International Technology Exchange, of Dublin, Ireland, asks tough questions.] (From Mail on Sunday www.thisismoney.com)   Global is raided then settles quickly. Kenneth Rogers of ITE International Technology Exchange, Dublin, Ireland, was raided by 20 FBI agents while he was running his last invention promotion company - Global Development Services Inc. (On United Inventors Association website, www.uiausa.com)   Invention promotion firm to pay $1 Million in consumer redress to settle U.S. Federal Trade Commission charges. [Kenneth Rogers of ITE International Technology Exchange, Dublin, Ireland, charged by U.S. Federal Trade Commission while he was running his last invention promotion company] (On www.ftc.gov) More articles about invention promotion companies. Have you been ripped-off by an invention promotion company that has charged you hundreds or thousands of dollars for fake patent searches, fake market reports, worthless patents and sham marketing services? You might want to print-out the story about the invention promotion scammer sentenced to 8 years in prison with NO early parole, use a bright-yellow highlighter to emphasize the prison part, and send a copy to the outfit that scammed you - along with a letter demanding your money back! If misleading advertising or other deceptive practices were involved, contact the Fair Business Practices Branch of the Industry Canada Competition Bureau. Click here for contact information. How tough is the Bureau? VERY tough! Competition Bureau investigations can lead to massive fines and prison terms for scammers. The Bureau works with the FBI, INTERPOL, and other international agencies to hunt-down and prosecute fraudsters worldwide. The Bureau even prosecuted a store for selling underweight bags of sheep manure! (click here to read story). Comparing the worthless documents sold by many invention promotion companies to underweight bags of sheep manure may be an act of excessive generosity, but there are legal parallels: in both cases, the customers didn't get what they paid for. Some inventors have talked of banding together to hire lawyers and launch class-action lawsuits against dishonest invention promotion companies. But invention promotion scams tend to leave victims impoverished with no money available to finance civil lawsuits. And why hire more lawyers when you already have several excellent lawyers on your payroll? Your taxes are paying the salaries of your federal Attorney General and your provincial Attorney General. Present your evidence to the Fair Trade Practices Branch and get these lawyers working for you! Inventors in the News Wayne Conrad is one of Canada's most successful inventors [Click on this link, then click on "Watch the documentary" on upper-right of new page to see a *GREAT* 13m40s video clip]. (On www.cbc.ca)   Entre Intel et la «Quasiturbine» / Between Intel and the Quasiturbine. (Sur www.cyberpresse.ca)   Calgary mom invents flexible TV filtering system. (On www.captiontv.com)   Diane LaPierre's TV filtering invention moves ahead in a big way: Exclusive license agreement signed with Global Cable. Inventor is vice-president of Caption TV Inc. (On www.captiontv.com)   TV-filtering inventions from Alberta and B.C. could help reduce murder rate. (From www.broadcastdialogue.com)   North Vancouver Fire and Rescue captain invents new sling harness. Grant Frost's Wrap-Evac reduces evacuation time by 15-30 minutes. (From the North Shore News, on www.nsnews.com)   BC Paraplegic Association Member James VanderHoek is a visual thinker with an entrepreneurial edge. [Invention keeps carpets clean] / James VanderHoek, ACP-CB, penseur visuel au côté entrepreneur (From Total Access Magazine, on www.canparaplegic.org)   Team Develops Revolutionary Water-Purifying Technology: ZeeWeed® membrane-based technology chosen for Walkerton, Ont. [Dr. Pierre Côté of Oakville, Ontario receives $100,000 Manning Award] (From www.manningawards.ca)   Canadian farmer invents hands-free crutches. Story & RAM video clip. (From KXTV News 10, on www.kxtv10.com)   Align-Right pillows: words from the inventor - Judy Blondin of Kitchener, Ontario. (On www.alignright.com)   Un moteur puissant, sans vibration, sans huile ni transmission, c'est possible? L'inventeur du moteur Quasiturbine en entrevue. (L'Écho du Transport, sur www.quasiturbine.com)   The rotary returns - as the engine of the future; Quasiturbine invented in Québec. (From Motorcycle News, on www.quasiturbine.com)   Drug firms expected to inject $1-billion into R&D in 2000. As long as Ottawa doesn't weaken patent protection, trade group says. (From www.globetechnology.com)   Billions of Dollars in Lost Opportunities: A Tale from the Academic Ghetto. Great article that explains why patents are an essential part of funding medical research. (From Patscan News on www.patscan.com)   Medical Milestones: Results in minutes with quick chest pain test [Canadian invention saves $580,000/year in one hospital alone!] (From Medical Post, on www.medicalpost.com)   Joint venture succeeds: Engineering feat lets implants release antibiotics. Invention by Vancouver's Nancy Paris-Seeley and colleagues can save patients months in hospital, saves health care system big bucks! (From the Vancouver Echo)   Yukon inventor has the golden touch. Albert Rock's data logger inventions form the foundation of a $5 million per year company (From the Yukon News, on www.yukonweb.com)   Utility pole manufacturing machine invented in Yellowknife, NWT. Hollow poles from Fiberglass North can save lives, prevent power disruption, are easily repaired. Market worth $7 Billion/yr in North America alone. (From Northern News Services on www.nnsl.com)   Over $1 million invested in computerized machine that makes fiberglass utility poles. Device invented in Yellowknife, NWT. (From Northern News Services on www.nnsl.com)   Iqaluit, Nunavut students display their inventions. (From Nunatsiaq News www.nunatsiaq.com)   Muffler man is making noise: Pouch Cove, Newfoundland invention reduces emissions from small engines (From the Moncton Times and Transcript, on www.web.net)   Partnering with Angel Investors (On Weir & Foulds Barristers & Solicitors' website at www.weirfoulds.com)   Raising capital to finance inventions is now easier in BC. Complexity and expense of paperwork reduced, need for prospectus eliminated in some cases. (From www.bcsc.bc.ca)   More articles about Inventing in Canada Sell your invention to millions of customers around the world through   eBay.ca!. Accept credit card payments for your invention over the internet via PayPal. Earn a $5 sign-up bonus!

Inventors wanted for TV interviews. Have you ever been a client of an invention-promotion company? Would you like to describe your experiences on one of Canada's biggest national TV networks? If so, please send e-mail to tv@inventors.ca. If you don't want to be interviewed on the air but you're willing to provide background information, that would be much appreciated also. It's going to be a fascinating show with major fallout - perhaps even millions of dollars in refunds for inventors. Don't miss your chance to change history! Check back here later for broadcast dates and times. Or join one of the mailing lists to be automatically notified when details are known.

Inventor Profiles on CBC Sudbury. Anastasia Rioux of CBC Sudbury is looking for inventors of all ages from northeast Ontario who would like to describe their inventions on radio. Click here for details.

March 3, 2003, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.: The Do's and Don'ts of Raising Equity. Location: Winnipeg, MB, Canada/Manitoba Business Service Centre, 250 - 240 Graham Avenue. An explanation of legal requirements in Manitoba for raising equity from family, friends, and acquaintances. Speakers: staff from the Manitoba Securities Commission. Cost: free. Registration: Click Here.

Monday, March 3, 2003: Raising Capital in Tough Times. Location: Ottawa. Web sites: www.newswire.ca and www.gonorth.com

March 3-4, 2003: Intellectual Asset Management. Location: Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel. A two-day seminar presenting strategies for harvesting, protecting, enforcing, and maximizing value of intellectual property. Learn how to use your intellectual property to leverage market access. Registration

Tuesday, March 4 2003, 6:30 p.m.: Inventors' Alliance Meeting. Location: Toronto, Ontario - North York Memorial Hall, 5100 Yonge Street. (Click here for map and directions). Cost: members free; visitors $15 (Membership is $95/yr). To receive monthly inventors' meeting agenda/reminder e-mails for Toronto, send e-mail to toronto@inventors.ca with the word subscribe in the subject line.

Le mercredi 5 mars 2003 : L'art du financement dans une période difficile. Endroit: Montréal. Site Web : www.cnw.ca et www.gonorth.com

Wednesday, March 5, 2003, 7:30 p.m.: LINK Inventors' Club Meeting. Location: Brantford, Ontario, in the Liftway Building 41 Prince Charles Road, Cainsville, across from TSC Farm Supply & Hardware Store. Cost: visitors free (donations accepted); voting members $20/yr. For more information about the LINK Inventors' Club, contact Les Sutch at brantford@inventors.ca or (519) 753-7735.

Le 25 mars, 2003 : Conférence sur la propriété intellectuelle Endroit : Jonquière, Centre des congrès-Holiday Inn. Présenté par Le Centre de haute technologie de Jonquière (CHT) en collaboration avec la firme Ogilvy Renault et Développement économique Canada (DEC). Coordonnateur : Roch Larouche, courriel : roch.larouche@cpa.cjonquiere.qc.ca, téléphone : 418-542-0307; télécopieur : 418-542-6818. Sites Web: www.cpa.cjonquiere.qc.ca; www.ogilvyrenault.com; www.dec-ced.gc.ca

Wednesday, March 26th, 2003: AltEnergy 2003 Conference. Location: Calgary, Alberta, Red & White Club - University of Calgary. Open to participants from all across Canada and worldwide. Website: www.linmarenterprises.org; e-mail: linmar@shaw.ca; tel: 403-278-9881.

Le mercredi 26 mars 2003 : Soirée des Anges financiers de Montréal. Endroit: Montréal, Salon Cartier, Marriott Château Champlain (1, Place du Canada). Les jeunes entrepreneurs présenteront leur projet d'entreprise aux anges financiers qui seront sur place. Site Web : www.angesfinanciers.qc.ca Courriel : fmmj-reception@ville.montreal.qc.ca; Tél. : 514-872-8401; Télécopieur : 514-872-2957.

Inventors' Seminar. Location: Victoria, B.C. Join the mailing list to receive more details once they're available. To receive monthly inventors' meeting/seminar reminder/agenda e-mails for the Victoria area, send e-mail to victoria@inventors.ca with the word subscribe in the subject line.

Inventors' Seminar. Location: Vancouver, B.C. Join the mailing list to receive more details once they're available. To receive monthly inventors' meeting/seminar reminder/agenda e-mails for the Vancouver area, send e-mail to vancouver@inventors.ca with the word subscribe in the subject line.

Tuesday April 1 2002, 7:30a.m.: Investor-Ready 101 Seminar. Location: Vancouver, SFU Downtown Campus. 515 W. Hastings Street, Vancouver, 2nd floor, Sauder room #2270. (Click here for street map; click here for floorplans showing room locations). Roger Killen, Bob Chaworth-Musters, and other experts will explain motivations and expectations of Angel Investors who are willing to provide early-stage capital to inventors and other entrepreneurs. Registration website: www.angelforum.org

April 7-9 2003: Strategies, Skills and Tactics of Negotiations. Location: Vancouver, B.C. Website: www.commerce.ubc.ca

April 2003: New Ventures B.C. Competition Registration Deadline. Thousands of dollars in prizes will be awarded to entrepreneurs in British Columbia with great ideas for innovative products or services involving new technologies. Website: www.newventuresbc.com

Le 10 avril, 2003 : Conférence sur la propriété intellectuelle Endroit : Jonquière, Centre des congrès-Holiday Inn. Présenté par Le Centre de haute technologie de Jonquière (CHT) en collaboration avec la firme Ogilvy Renault et Développement économique Canada (DEC). Coordonnateur : Roch Larouche, courriel : roch.larouche@cpa.cjonquiere.qc.ca, téléphone : 418-542-0307; télécopieur : 418-542-6818. Sites Web: www.cpa.cjonquiere.qc.ca; www.ogilvyrenault.com; www.dec-ced.gc.ca

Thursday, April 24, 2003: Young Inventors - Invention Convention. Location: Toronto area. For grades 7 & 8. Website: www.tlp.on.ca; e-mail: info@tlp.on.ca; tel: 416-481-0799; fax: 416-482-5311.

Monday, May 5 2003: Angel Forum. Location: Vancouver, B.C. An Angel is an investor who may consider financing projects at an early stage when banks may not be willing to provide financing. Inventors and other entrepreneurs will have an opportunity to present their equity financing needs of $100,000 to $1 million to individual and corporate investors. The "early stage hour" will be suitable for inventors who are at the pre-commercial stage and do not yet have a complete business plan or management team, but do have intellectual property that has high potential for protection. Info: www.angelforum.org

Le 21 mai 2003 - 7h30-20h00 : Sommet des anges. Endroit : Montréal. Site Web : www.rfm.qc.ca

May 23-25 2003: BabyTime. Location: Toronto, International Centre, 6900 Airport Road (Click here for map). Canada's largest consumer show of products and services for infants & toddlers. Website: www.babytime.ca or www.oak.net/shobiz/baby.htm; e-mail: natshow@sympatico.ca; tel: 705-444-7200 or toll-free 1-800-291-2085; fax: 705-444-7858.

Le 5 juin, 2003 : Conférence sur la propriété intellectuelle Endroit : Jonquière, Centre des congrès-Holiday Inn. Présenté par Le Centre de haute technologie de Jonquière (CHT) en collaboration avec la firme Ogilvy Renault et Développement économique Canada (DEC). Coordonnateur : Roch Larouche, courriel : roch.larouche@cpa.cjonquiere.qc.ca, téléphone : 418-542-0307; télécopieur : 418-542-6818. Sites Web: www.cpa.cjonquiere.qc.ca; www.ogilvyrenault.com; www.dec-ced.gc.ca

Wednesday-Friday, June 18-20 2003: New Inventions Display at the Western Canada Farm Progress Show. Location: Regina, Saskatchewan, Regina Exhibition Park. Displays include new inventions, the latest in technology, and antique farm machinery. 700+ exhibitors and more than 40,000 visitors from around the world. Over 50 Million Dollars in export sales generated each year. Info: www.wcfps.com; Phone: (306) 781-9200; Toll Free: 1-888-734-3975; Fax: (306) 781-9396; e-mail: wcfpsExhibit@reginaexhibition.com

June 9-11 2003: Strategies, Skills and Tactics of Negotiations. Location: Vancouver, B.C. Website: www.commerce.ubc.ca

June 12-13 2003: Advanced Negotiation Skills Workshop. Location: Vancouver, B.C. Website: www.commerce.ubc.ca

July, 2003: Rolex Awards for Enterprise - Application Deadline. The Awards encourage a spirit of enterprise in individuals around the world by supporting outstanding efforts that advance human knowledge and well-being. Five winners will each receive $100,000 and a specially inscribed gold Rolex chronometer. Check back here later for full details, or join one of the mailing lists to be automatically notified when details are known.
Juillet 2003 : Date limite pour le dépôt des candidatures au Prix Rolex d'esprit d'entreprise. Les prix encouragent l'esprit d'entreprise des individus de par le monde en reconnaissant les efforts exceptionnels qui font avancer la connaissance et le bien-être humain. Les cinq gagnants recevront chacun 100 000 $ et un chronomètre Rolex en or gravé à leur mérite.

July, 2003: Edmonton's Klondike Days Exposition. Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Northland Park. Show your product to over 750,000 visitors. Before exhibiting at large product-specific shows attended by chain store buyers (the Canadian Hardware Show, for example), it's often a good idea to test the waters and get some low-cost practice dealing with crowds at a local multi-product consumer-oriented show such as the Klondike Days Exposition. Website: www.klondikedays.com; e-mail: klondikedays@northlands.com; Tel: 780-471-7210; Toll-free: 1-888-800-7275; Fax: 780-471-8176.

August 16 - September 1, 2003: Inventors' Booth at the Pacific National Exhibition. Location: Vancouver, B.C. Save big money by sharing a booth with other inventors. Show your invention and sell to tens of thousands of potential customers per day. Before exhibiting at large product-specific shows attended by chain store buyers (the Canadian Hardware Show, for example), it's often a good idea to test the waters and get some low-cost practice dealing with crowds at a local multi-product consumer-oriented show such as the PNE. It's also an opportunity to generate the cash needed to attend trade shows in other cities. If you want to license your invention to manufacturers, proving some sales can increase likelihood of manufacturer interest and make it easier to negotiate higher royalties. Inventors from across Canada and worldwide are welcome to participate. Combine business with pleasure; visit Vancouver and market your invention at the same time. Attend in person or send your product and sales literature to be presented by experienced exhibitors. Cost of booth space ranges from $25 to $500 depending on: a) size of your product and display; b) whether or not you will attend in person; c) whether you'll participate for only 1 day or all 17 days. Info: pne@inventors.ca

October, 2003: Grocery Innovations Canada. Location: Toronto. This trade exposition supports and promotes Canada's $64 billion grocery industry. Show your grocery-related invention here. www.groceryinnovations.com

October 2003: Kid Inventor Challenge Application Deadline. For contestants age 12 or younger. Must be a resident of Canada or the U.S. Presented by Wild Planet Toys. Website: www.wildplanet.com

Décembre, 2003 : La Foire aux Inventions Québécoises. Un bon endroit pour acheter les cadeaux initiaux de Noël. Site Web : www.inventarium.com

January, 2004: Manitoba AG Days Inventors' Showcase. Location: Brandon, Manitoba, Keystone Centre. "Inventors' Showcase" - new farm inventions exhibit area in Western Canada's largest indoor farm show. Over 25,000 farmers attend annually. Website: www.agdays.com; tel: 204-571-6566; fax 204-571-6567.

January, 2004: Canadian Toy & Hobby Fair. Location: Toronto. Inventors of toys or games are invited to show their products to manufacturers and retailers. This event is for inventors and toy industry professionals only - it's not open to the general public. Display spaces will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Sponsored by the Canadian Toy Association / L'association canadienne du jouet. Website: www.cdntoyassn.com; tel: 905-660-5690; fax: 905-660-2392.

February, 2004: Inventors' Booth at the Canadian Hardware Show. Location: Toronto, National Trade Centre. Many chain store buyers attend this show to see the latest hardware innovations. They often place large orders for the best new products. Get your invention in front of the highest-level decision-makers who attend these industry-only shows instead of consumer shows. Contact hardware@inventors.ca for more information about the shared inventors' booth.

. February 15, 2004 : Manning Innovation Awards Application Deadline. Prizes available: $100,000, $25,000, and two at $10,000 each. Nomination forms and other details available at: www.manningawards.ca
Le 15 février, 2004 : Date limite pour le dépôt des candidatures au Prix d'Innovation Manning. Prix disponibles: 100 000 $, 25 000 $, et deux à 10 000 $ pièce. Formes de nomination disponibles à: www.manningawards.ca

March 31 - April 2, 2004: GLOBE International Trade Fair and Conference on Business and the Environment. Location: Vancouver. Website: www.globe.ca
Du 31 mars au 2 avril 2004 : GLOBE - Foire commerciale et conférence internationale sur les affaires et l'environnement. Endroit : Vancouver. Site Web : www.globe.ca


If inventors' organizations in other provinces have booths at trade shows appropriate to your product type, you might want to approach them about cutting a deal to show your invention in their booths.

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Please forward a copy of this page to any creative/inventive people you know who may be interested in attending these events.


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