Whitaker Link Reflects Many Lives of Invention Marketing Scams

Yolanda Henderson thought she had a winning idea with a glitter paint she called “All That Glitters.” U.S. Patent Commission Ltd. told her it was brilliant, and offered to help her achieve entrepreneurial riches.

After paying the company $2,700, the Minnesota resident had no patent or licensing deal for her invention. She sued U.S. Patent in 2015, entered arbitration and eventually settled the case.

Invention promotion companies re-entered the spotlight last month with the revelation that acting U.S. Attorney General Matthew Whitaker was a former board member and endorser for the now-defunct World Patent Marketing, which was shut down by ...