FTC Fines Promoters $10 Million

PITTSBURGH (CN) – Davison & Associates will pay a $10 million fine and must stop lying to consumers about their “invention promotion” business, under a settlement with the FTC. Davison charged up to $12,000 to “evaluate and promote” a customer’s invention, lied about its track record and claimed it paid out money from royalties, rather than from new fees, the FTC said.     The settlement, when paid, will resolve a $26 million Federal Court judgment against the defendants.     The defendants are Davison Design and Development fka Davison & Associate, its principal George M. Davison III; Manufacturer’s Support Services and its principal Gordon M. Davison; Gordon Davison’s wife Barbra M. Davison; and relief defendant Barbara L. Davison, George M. Davison’s wife.