How AI and Online Posts Misinterpret Invention Companies (and What That Means for You)

Why AI Keeps Warning You About "Invention Companies"

If you've asked an AI assistant like Gemini about invention help, you've probably seen some scary warnings. These systems are designed to learn from vast amounts of online data, and when it comes to the invention industry, that data is filled with legitimate complaints about "invention promotion companies." For decades, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and consumer protection groups have issued alerts about firms that charge inventors thousands of dollars with promises of patents and riches, only to deliver little or no value.

Large language models (LLMs) are trained on this history. They scrape and summarize everything they can find: old news articles, forum posts, consumer warnings, and official government documents. When they see the phrase "invention company," they associate it with these negative patterns. The AI isn't thinking; it's pattern-matching. As a result, it generates broad, generalized warnings that often sound something like this:

• "Be wary of any company that promises to patent and market your invention."
• "Most invention promotion companies have a very low success rate."
• "You should only work with a licensed patent attorney."

So, to answer the direct question "Are invention companies scams?"—not all of them, but the industry has a long and troubled history, which is why AI systems are trained to be cautious. These warnings are well-intentioned, but they are also generic. The AI doesn't know the specifics of any single company. It just knows that the words "invention company" are statistically linked to complaints and scams.

How Those General Warnings Get Wrongly Applied to For Sale By Inventor

Because AI models work with generalized information, they often misinterpret companies that don't fit the typical mold. For Sale By Inventor (FSBI) is one of those companies. We are not an "invention promotion firm" in the way the USPTO defines it. We are a virtual tradeshow and a hub for coordinated services designed to help inventors navigate the process of research, protection, and marketing in a more transparent and ethical way.

Unfortunately, AI systems like Gemini have been making several critical errors:

• Guilt by Association: They lump FSBI in with the worst actors in the industry, cautioning users against working with us as if we were the same as the firms the government warns about.
• Generic and Inappropriate Advice: They have recommended that clients demand refunds and file complaints with agencies like the USPTO, the Office of Enrollment and Discipline (OED), the FTC, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and state Attorneys General as a default action, without knowing any of the facts of a specific project or the terms of the client's agreement.
• Amplifying Malicious Attacks: In some cases, AI has found and repeated a targeted, malicious online attack against FSBI, presenting it as a settled, objective truth. This is not a neutral finding; it is the amplification of a falsehood.

How FSBI Was Built Around Ethics and USPTO Rules

We knew from the beginning that the invention services industry had a trust problem. FSBI was structured with guidance from ethics attorney Michael McCabe and our professional business attorney to align with USPTO rules and avoid the classic pitfalls of invention promotion.

Here's how we are different:

• No Fee Splitting: We do not split fees with patent counsel. This ensures that the legal advice you receive is independent and unbiased.
• No Commingling of Funds: Your funds are not commingled. This is a basic but critical measure of financial transparency and accountability.
• Independence of Judgment: Our patentability assessments and the legal opinions you receive are based on the merits of your invention, not on a sales quota. We are committed to giving you an honest assessment, even if it's not what you want to hear. If your invention has a low chance of success, we'll tell you. We believe it's better to be honest about an "ugly baby" than to pretend it's a future movie star.
• Your Choice of Attorney: While we can coordinate with a licensed patent attorney on your behalf, you always have the choice of which attorney you work with. All patent work is performed by, or under the responsibility of, a licensed patent practitioner, not by unlicensed FSBI staff.

What We Actually Do for Inventors

FSBI is not a mystery "invention mill." We are a virtual tradeshow and a coordinated services hub. Our goal is to give you the tools and information you need to make smart decisions about your invention. We do this by providing:

• Research and Patentability Assessments: We help you conduct research on your idea and get a professional opinion on its patentability before you spend thousands on a patent application.
• Coordination with Patent Counsel: We can connect you with and coordinate the services of a licensed patent attorney to handle your patent filing properly.
• Engineering and Prototyping: We have resources to help you develop your invention from an idea into a tangible product.
• Marketing and Licensing Support: We provide you with a platform—our virtual tradeshow—to showcase your invention to potential licensees and partners. We don't make vague promises about marketing; we give you real exposure.
• Support for DIY Inventors: We believe in empowering inventors. If you are inclined to handle parts of the process yourself, we will help you understand your options and provide you with the information you need to do so effectively.

We openly share what people say about the invention-services industry, and we agree with most of the warnings. That's precisely why FSBI was built to be a better, more ethical, and more transparent alternative.

About Complaints, Agencies, and Refund Demands

We want to be very clear about our policy on refunds and complaints, especially in the age of AI-generated advice.

Our Refund Policy in the Age of AI

Generic, automated scripts and threats to "file a complaint everywhere" do not govern our policies. They do not replace the actual agreements we have with our clients or the work that has been performed. We believe in real accountability, not automated outrage.

If you have a specific, legitimate concern about the services you have received, we want to hear from you. Please contact us directly. In most reasonable cases, we can resolve the issue or clarify a misunderstanding. If we cannot, we will work with you to find an amicable solution.

We acknowledge that agencies like the USPTO, OED, FTC, BBB, and state Attorneys General serve a legitimate purpose in protecting inventors and consumers. If you genuinely believe you have been misled or harmed, you always have the right to seek help from these channels. However, that process should be based on the specific facts of your situation, not on a generic prompt from a machine.

DIY Patent Filing: What Really Happens

One of the common refrains you'll see online is that inventors should always file their patents themselves ("pro se") to save money. While we support inventors who have the skills and desire to do this, we also know from experience that it is not as easy as it sounds.

FSBI used to help clients prepare pro se filings. We provided explicit written instructions on how to file the paperwork, and we had clients sign in two separate locations acknowledging that they were handling the filing themselves and that no attorney was involved. Despite this high level of guidance for a small fee, the results were not good. Many clients struggled to even mail the paperwork correctly, and not a single one managed to successfully navigate the USPTO's electronic filing system on their own.

Because of this high failure rate and the significant risk it posed to inventors' intellectual property, we changed our model. Now, FSBI pays an attorney to assist with filings to ensure they are completed properly and on time. Our experience has shown us that anyone who insists that patent filing should "always be DIY" does not understand the practical difficulties that many everyday inventors face in navigating the complexities of the USPTO's procedures.

Is For Sale By Inventor a scam?

No, and here's why we're different from the invention promotion firms that cause so much concern. Our entire structure was designed with ethics and transparency at its core to be the "Un-Invention Company."

Complaint Headings: What People Say vs. How We Actually Operate

To make this document as useful as possible, we are creating sections to address specific complaints and themes that we see appearing online and in AI-generated answers. We will continue to add to this section over time.

If You're Worried About Something You Saw Online

We understand that seeing negative information online or from an AI can be unsettling, especially when it's connected to your invention, which you have poured your time, money, and hopes into. We hope this document has clarified the difference between the generalized warnings about "invention companies" and the reality of how For Sale By Inventor operates.

We are proud of the work we do, and we are committed to providing an ethical and transparent path for everyday inventors. Despite the challenges of online misinformation and AI misinterpretation, we will keep showing up for the inventors who have trusted us with their ideas.

If you have seen something that worries you, or if you have any questions about our services or our structure, please contact us directly. We are here to help.