The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) offers free resources for inventors. These include application assistance; education and training; help appealing or fixing an issue; and other services that support independent patent and trademark filers. As a patent agency, we have noticed big disparities in inventorship, so we were happy to learn about the …
A common misconception is that having a trademark means that one legally owns a particular word or phrase and can prevent others from using it. However, one doesn’t have rights to the word or phrase in general, but rather only to how that word or phrase is used with their specific goods or services. Learn …
To find out whether our invention is novel, or not already invented, we do what’s called a prior-art search. “Prior art” is any previous public disclosure of an invention just like yours. This includes anything published or disclosed anywhere in the world. Prior art is any evidence that your invention is already known. The USPTO …
Last week the Federal Trade Commission issued a warning to pharmaceutical companies about exploiting loopholes in the patent process. In particular, patents on inhalers are suspected to be violating federal law. The pharmaceutical companies, which were not named, bar competitors from the drug market by filing patent applications on various aspects of their products. Then …
From struggling single mother to business diva, Bette Nesmith Graham’s grit and perseverance was epic. So was her story. If you want to be inspired, read Perseverance, thy name is Bette at this month’s installation of the USPTO’s Journeys of Innovation. “She stood outside the Texas Bank and Trust high-rise building in downtown Dallas one …
First-time patent-application filers interested in learning about the patent process from start to finish are invited to join the USPTO’s three-day workshop to learn the fundamentals of the patent-application process. The Stakeholder Application Readiness Training (StART) is for independent inventors and entrepreneurs. Day Three is from 9 am — 4 pm on Jan. 12, 2023 …
You don’t need an attorney to apply for a trademark. If you’re filing yourself, be informed: first, do a search, and learn the difference between trademarks and service marks, and standard character formats vs. special-form formats. Learn it all at the USPTO’s Trademark Basics Boot Camp. This free, eight-part weekly series begins Tuesday, January 10, …
Inventors know that a patent search is a big part of research and development. Chief among the free tools researchers use are Google Patents, Espacenet, and the USPTO. Google Patents adds little features all the time, but the USPTO’s search tool has recently undergone a giant overhaul with a completely new search tool. The new …
Introduction to Intellectual Property is a virtual series offered quarterly by the USPTO. It continues on Tuesday, September 13, 2022 with “Patent Basics” from 2:00 — 3:00 pm ET. The series covers helpful resources for inventors and entrepreneurs. Tuesday’s class will cover: The process of patent prosecution The role of patent examiners at the USPTO …
New London Makers: Let’s Do This. Patenting 101 for New London Makers: Saturday, August 8, 2pm – 3pm We take ourselves and our work seriously by applying for patent protection. It doesn’t have to be expensive. You could file a provisional patent yourself for $70. For real. Scott will deliver his hour-long Patenting 101 webinar …