Advanced Tips for the Seasoned Inventor - This session will cover complex prosecution topics including declaration practice under rules 37 CFR 1.131 and 1.132 in order to overcome prior art references, the filing of terminal disclaimers in order to overcome double patenting rejections, requests for pre-appeal conferences, formalities required in order to file an appeal, and the procedure to revive an abandoned application.
Application Preparation for Patents and Accelerated Examination (for the beginner) - In this session you will learn why patents exist and how they protect inventions. Expert presenters from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will offer a detailed explanation of patent application filing requirements; forms required and associated filing fees. These experts will also review provisional applications, utility and design applications will be discussed. The USPTO has established procedures under which the examination of a patent application may be accelerated. Under one of these procedures, the USPTO will advance an application out of turn for examination if the applicant files a grantable petition to make special under the accelerated examination program. An overview of this new process will be covered.
Claim Construction - Now that you understand the basics of the patent process, learn how to properly define your invention in a claim. Learn how to understand the importance of how to broadly define your invention while still meeting statutory deficiencies from other similar type inventions.
Electronic Filing System (EFS) and e-Commerce - The USPTO's web-based system allows patent submissions to be filed electronically from anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This can replace the traditional patent filing of a paper application and eliminate some of the 2 million pages submitted to the USPTO weekly. Learn how user friendly the submission process is, and the benefits of the EFS system to you as the applicant.
Patent Searching and Navigating the USPTO web site - In this session you will learn how to conduct a patent search. Supervisory Patent Examiners from the United States Patent and Trademark Office will provide tips and guidance that can help you search out those related patents.
Trademark Searching - In this session you will learn how to conduct a trademark search. A USPTO Trademark attorney will provide tips and guidance that can help you search out those problems that could ultimately sink your business.
Oops I think I Have a Problem – Inventor Dilemmas - Learn about invention marketing companies, what to do about an examiner's rejection and what happens after a patent is issued. Information is provided about the common questions from inventors.
Local Resources In Your Area - Although you will be hearing from local resources in the New York area, these resources are actually located throughout the country and available to inventors everywhere. The USPTO's Patent and Trademark Depository Librarians an overview of local resources.
One-on-One with the Experts (sign up in advance) - Throughout Friday and Saturday we have allotted time for you to sit down with an expert and have 15 minutes of consultation free! Advance sign-up is required and space will be limited.
Trademark and Design Applications - Trademarks will explore the groundwork you need to apply for the trademark that will identify your invention for the public. It will cover the definition of a mark that can be registered and the federal law that is the basis of the registration system. It will also give you a thumbnail sketch of the trademark registration process from new application workflow through post-registration maintenance. The new Madrid Protocol system for international registration will be discussed as well. The Design Applications portion of this session will teach the filing requirements, how designs patents protect the appearance of an object and enhance its commercial value.
Working With Your Patent Attorney/Agent - This presentation covers some important factors for the inventor to consider when finding, selecting, and working with a patent attorney/agent. By selecting carefully, by knowing what the attorney/agent will need before the first visit even takes place, and by knowing what to expect during the patent application process you will have a better understanding when working with your patent attorney/agent.
