Originally Syndicated on April 29, 2024 @ 8:29 am
Dan Goman runs Ateliere Creative Technologies and today we’re talking about him.
He has been featured on multiple news outlets for his greatness and excellence and that caught my eye. Why is an entertainment technology guy being featured everywhere all of a sudden?
So, I did a little digging.
And it turns out, Dan faced an SEC complaint just a couple of years ago for a $45 million scam.
This article will go over his current claims, his SEC complaint and his current marketing attempts. Let’s begin:
Who is Dan Goman of Ateliere?
Dan Goman is the founder and CEO of Ateliere Creative Technologies. According to his bio on the company’s website, Dan has worked with several leading technology giants including Microsoft and AT&T.
However, you can only take his word for it.
I didn’t find any third-party, credible sources talking about Goman’s experience with these companies. Furthermore, his bio highlights that he had identified the potential of OTT platforms way before the industry caught onto the trend.
Ateliere Creative Technologies focuses on post-video production technology, customizable video apps, and video deduplication. Dan Goman claims to be the innovator behind these technologies.
According to their website, Ateliere focuses on digital supply chain management, IMF, content packaging, and distribution.
Certainly, it seems like a promising platform and it makes you wonder what Dan Goman did before launching Ateliere.
Spoiler alert: Ateliere’s original name was OwnZones Media Network.
When the Securities and Exchange Commission Sued Dan Goman
In 2020, the SEC filed a lawsuit against Dan Goman and his brother Joseph Goman for running an illegal stock offering.
The name of the company through which they ran this alleged operation was called OwnZones.
According to the SEC’s complaint, OwnZones, an entertainment technology company based in Beverly Hills, conducted an unregistered securities offering from 2011 through the present.
During this time, the company’s CEO and president, Dan Goman of California, along with his brother Joe Goman of Arizona, who served as the stock sales agent, raised $45 million from over one thousand investors.
The SEC’s complaint alleged that Dan Goman and other OwnZones representatives had made false and misleading statements to investors regarding OwnZones’ potential IPO and the progress of investment discussions with major companies.
It has been alleged in the complaint that Joe Goman made misstatements to investors. These misstatements included claims that Mark Cuban and MGM had purchased OwnZones stock for $5 per share, that Google had offered to buy OwnZones for $500 million, and that OwnZones was on the verge of going public with an IPO price significantly higher than what investors were currently paying.
The complaint, filed by the SEC in the Central District of California, accused OwnZones, Dan Goman, and Joe Goman of violating the securities registration requirements of Sections 5(a) and 5(c) of the Securities Act of 1933, as well as the antifraud provisions of Section 17(a) of the Securities Act and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder. Dan Goman was also charged as a control person under Section 20(a) for OwnZones’ violations, according to the complaint. The complaint sought permanent injunctions, disgorgement, prejudgment interest, and civil penalties.
This is serious evidence.
It indicates that Dan Goman engaged in securities fraud and attempted to steal at least million from gullible investors. Such incriminating information can ruin the growth prospects of any scammer.
Like any other online scammer, it seems Dan Goman resorted to another unethical tactic to ensure he can launch similar schemes in the future. That unethical practice is called Reputation Laundering.
Is Dan Goman Attempting a Reputation Clean-up?
When you google “Dan Goman” or “Dan Goman Ateliere”, you won’t find any mentions of the SEC complaint against the Goman brothers.
Instead, you’d find several interviews and press releases talking about the expertise and experience of Dan Goman.
This way, he can hide almost all negative media about the SEC complaint, the legal proceedings, and his previous $45 million scam.
There are many harms of reputation laundering, which is what Dan is engaging in to hide his criminal past.
Dangers of Reputation Clean-ups AKA Reputation Laundering:
Reputation laundering is harmful because it allows individuals or entities with a history of unethical or illegal behavior to disguise their past and integrate into reputable circles. This can lead to several negative consequences:
- Deception: It misleads the public, investors, and regulators about the true nature of an individual’s or entity’s activities, creating a false sense of trustworthiness. After all, a new investor or prospective customer won’t have any idea of Dan’s past when he would look him up.
- Evasion of Accountability: Reputation launderers can evade sanctions and scrutiny, which means they can continue their harmful activities without facing consequences. This is why reputation clean-ups are common among criminals.
- Corruption of Institutions: By donating to charities, universities, and political parties, reputation launderers can corrupt these institutions and potentially influence them to serve their interests instead of the public good.
- Undermining Democracy: Reputation laundering can enable kleptocrats and other corrupt individuals to manipulate democratic processes and institutions, weakening the foundations of democratic societies.
- Distortion of Markets: It can distort financial markets by making it difficult to distinguish between legitimate and illegitimate activities, leading to unfair competition and market inefficiencies.
- Social Harm: Reputation laundering can facilitate the expansion of criminal operations, as it allows criminals to legitimize their ill-gotten gains and use them to further their illegal activities.
In essence, reputation laundering is dangerous because it allows bad actors to continue their harmful behavior under the guise of respectability, which can have wide-ranging negative effects on society and the economy.
By filling the internet with misleading claims and disinformation, the PR team of Dan Goman is engaging in an extremely unethical practice.
Conclusion
It’s obvious who Dan Goman is. He used to run OwnZones Media through which he and his brother defrauded numerous investors for more than $45 million.
When the Securities and Exchange Commission caught them, they paid the penalties and rebranded the company as “Ateliere Creative Technologies”.
Now, Goman is running a reputation clean-up campaign to hide his dirty laundry so nobody would find out what he did with his previous company. This is why reputation laundering is so dangerous.
It allows scammers to keep repeating their shady schemes without facing any real consequences.
With each successful scam, they get richer and more difficult to catch.
What do you think of Dan Goman and Ateliere Creative Technologies? Do you think they are legit? Let me know in the comments!
The article raises important issues about transparency and accountability. It’s crucial that potential investors have access to all necessary information to make informed decisions.
It’s interesting to see how past actions can impact one’s reputation in the tech industry, and the lengths some might go to cleanse their public image.
While the allegations are concerning, I would be interested in seeing what kind of measures are in place to prevent such issues from occurring again at Ateliere Creative Technologies.
The article definitely provides food for thought. It’s a reminder for us to always do our own research before making any investment or partnership.
It would be beneficial to look at both sides of the story and see if Ateliere Creative Technologies has taken steps to improve their practices since the SEC complaint.
The article provides a comprehensive overview of Dan Goman’s history. It’s important for investors and customers to conduct their own due diligence before engaging with Ateliere Creative Technologies.
Interesting read. While the allegations are concerning, I wonder how Ateliere Creative Technologies is performing now and whether their technology delivers on its promises.
Securities fraud is a serious offense, and this past SEC complaint definitely raises red flags. Does Ateliere have any recent independent audits or reviews vouching for its current operations?
The implications of reputation laundering are vast, as outlined in the article. It’s vital for the tech and investment communities to hold entities accountable for past misconduct.
While the past cannot be changed, I am interested in learning about any concrete steps Dan Goman has taken towards rectifying previous wrongdoings, if any. Transparency going forward is key.