Invention-Con: Assistance and resources

Minority Business Development Agency

About

The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce that promotes the growth of minority-owned business through the mobilization and advancement of public and private sector programs, policy, and research. We work throughout the nation to link minority-owned businesses with the capital, contracts, and markets they need to grow. We advocate and promote minority-owned business with elected officials, policy makers, and business leaders. Our programs and services better equip minority-owned firms to create jobs, build scale and capacity, increase revenues, and expand regionally, nationally, and internationally.

For more information, contact:

202-482-2332

National Institute of Standards and Technology

About

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) was founded in 1901 and is now part of the U.S. Department of Commerce. NIST is one of the nation's oldest physical science laboratories. Congress established the agency to remove a major challenge to U.S. industrial competitiveness at the time — a second-rate measurement infrastructure that lagged behind the capabilities of the United Kingdom, Germany, and other economic rivals. From the smart electric power grid and electronic health records to atomic clocks, advanced nanomaterials, and computer chips, innumerable products and services rely in some way on technology, measurement, and standards provided by NIST. Today, NIST measurements support the smallest of technologies to the largest and most complex of human-made creations — from nanoscale devices so tiny that tens of thousands can fit on the end of a single human hair up to earthquake-resistant skyscrapers and global communication networks.

Additional links/materials

For more information, visit:

Contacting NIST

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

About

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce. NOAA's mission is to understand and predict changes in climate, weather, ocean, and coasts, to share actionable information with others, and to conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources. From daily weather forecasts, severe storm warnings, and climate monitoring, to fisheries management, coastal restoration, and supporting marine commerce, NOAA’s products and services support economic vitality and provide citizens, planners, emergency managers, and other decision makers with the reliable information they need, when they need it.

The NOAA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program awards early-stage funding to U.S. small businesses to catalyze technological innovation. NOAA’s SBIR Program specifically aims to invest in high-impact emerging technology areas and support the research and development of commercializable technologies that solve problems related to climate, weather, oceans, and coasts. The NOAA SBIR Program runs an annual grant competition and provides education and other support to entrepreneurs throughout the process of researching, developing, and commercializing products or services.

Informational videos

Additional links/materials

For more information, contact:

Email: NOAA.SBIR@noaa.gov
Mailing list: https://techpartnerships.noaa.gov/sbir-email-list/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NOAAinnovate
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/tech-partnerships

National Science Foundation

About

Innovation programs at the National Science Foundation (NSF) advance ideas from the laboratory to the marketplace to strengthen America’s economy, health, and security. NSF has several programs to translate fundamental research into market solutions, and supports and trains researchers with promising technologies, as well as funding high-tech startups. Learn about the NSF’s central role in accelerating the growth of the national ecosystem and hear about specific funding opportunities.

Additional links/materials

For more information, contact:

TIP@nsf.gov

United States Census Bureau

About

The Census Bureau's mission is to serve as the nation’s leading provider of quality data about its people and economy. Our primary dissemination platform, data.census.gov, allows you to access these data from our most popular surveys and programs free of charge. With these demographic and business data, you can learn more about potential customers, potential workforce, and other businesses.

Informational video

Overview of using and finding data on Census.gov

For more information, contact:

census.data@census.gov
800-923-8282

U.S. Commercial Services

About

The U.S. Commercial Services, part of the International Trade Administration (ITA) at the U.S. Department of Commerce, supports America's innovative companies with international sales. We have 100 offices across the United States and another 130 offices in 75 countries that can be a resource to your company in finding partners and clients worldwide. Grow global with us.

Additional links/materials

For more information, contact:

Contact an office nearest you

U.S. Copyright Office

About

The U.S. Copyright Office is a separate department of the Library of Congress. Most of the 450 employees examine and register hundreds of thousands of original authorship copyright claims each year. In 2021, the Office issued 403,593 registrations, recorded 11,625 documents containing titles of 961,291 works, and forwarded hundreds of thousands of works with a net value of $44,771,339 to Library of Congress collections.

Informational videos

Additional links/materials

For more information, contact:

Alicia Morris
amro@copyright.gov
Public Information and Education Office
U.S. Copyright Office, Library of Congress

U.S. Small Business Administration

About

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) works to ignite change and spark action so small businesses from main street to new high tech startups can confidently start, grow, expand, or recover. SBA’s Office of Innovation and Technology coordinates America’s Seed Fund, programs that spur business development and commercialization of research and development, including the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. SBIR/STTR is the nation’s largest source of early-stage, non-dilutive capital to turn your inventions into products that solve critical problems for the world.

Informational videos

Additional links/materials

For more information, contact:

Technology@sba.gov

Free Legal Services

Map of patent pro bono programs — Click image to view at a larger size

About

The Patent Pro Bono Program endeavors to match financially under-resourced independent inventors and small businesses with a patent practitioner who provides patent preparation, filing, and prosecution services, without charge for their legal services. The program consists of 21 independent not-for-profit regional programs which endeavor to match qualified applicants with volunteer patent practitioners. Applicants may apply for assistance through the program in their region. A list of regional programs can be found on the USPTO’s Patent Pro Bono Program webpage. Regional programs may charge a fee for the screening and matching service, and applicants are responsible for all USPTO filing fees.

Inventor uses the USPTO’s Patent Pro Bono Program to advance accessibility technology

Informational videos

For more information, contact:

ProBono@uspto.gov

Global Intellectual Property Academy

About

In furtherance of the UPSTO’s strategic goal to lead in Intellectual Property (IP) policy and improve IP systems, the Global Intellectual Property Academy (GIPA), under the Office of Policy and International Affairs (OPIA), provides international capacity-building intellectual property training in a variety of IP topics for the benefit of U.S stakeholders. Classes are conducted around the world for U.S. and international audiences in multiple languages, with many at the USPTO headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia or broadcast remotely. Instructors are OPIA subject matter experts in all areas of IP protection and enforcement, IP attachés, and experts from other business units at the USPTO, and from around the U.S. government.

The Global Intellectual Property Academy – An Overview

Informational videos

Additional links/materials

Virtual and in-person IP capacity-building and training programming at the USPTO, designed and provided by the OPIA through its GIPA, delivered around the U.S. and overseas for the benefit of U.S. stakeholders. Program participants include: Legislators, judges, IP office officials, prosecutors, customs officials, police, U.S. stakeholders, and U.S. government officials.
Blog post: Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves praises USPTO for critical work in promoting American competitiveness, innovation and ingenuity

For more information, contact:

Velica Dunn, GIPA
AskGIPA@uspto.gov
571-272-1500

Inventors Assistance Center

About

The Inventors Assistance Center (IAC), within the Office of Patents Stakeholder Experience, provides patent information and services to the public. The IAC is staffed by former supervisory patent examiners and primary examiners who answer general questions concerning patent examining policy and procedure.

For more information, contact:

800-PTO-9199 (800-786-9199)
571-272-1000
TDD/TTY customers can dial 800-877-8339 for customer assistance

IP Attaché Program

About

The Intellectual Property (IP) Attaché Program is within the USPTO’s Office of Policy and International Affairs. IP attachés advocate to improve IP policies, laws, and regulations abroad for the benefit of U.S. stakeholders. They also provide information to help U.S. stakeholders entering foreign markets or conducting business abroad, such as how to navigate foreign laws and regulations, and how foreign courts and governments work.

IP Attaché Program

Informational videos

Additional links/materials

USPTO IP Attaché services flyer (PDF)

For more information, contact:

Dominic Keating, Director, IP Attaché Program
Dominic.Keating@uspto.gov
571-272-9300

Office of Education

About

The Office of Education (OE) at the USPTO provides K-12 educational and outreach programming for students, educators, and young inventors and innovators. The OE supports the mission of the agency by providing relevant intellectual property, innovation, and invention resources to school administrators, teachers, students, and parents. The OE also has a robust outreach program that supports many community-based invention and innovation programs.

Science of Innovation -- What is Innovation?

Informational videos

Educational library

Additional links/materials

For more information, contact:

Education@uspto.gov
571-272-0241

Office of Innovation Outreach

About

The Office of Innovation Outreach (OIO) develops awareness and outreach programs and training for inventors, organizations, and universities. The OIO is located in the Office of the Chief Communications Officer of the USPTO and supports the mission of the agency by providing relevant intellectual property (IP), innovation, and invention resources to independent inventors, small businesses, entrepreneurs, and underrepresented or underserved populations. The OIO creates annual programming and works with partners from other federal agencies, organizations, and universities to help everyone better understand, secure, and utilize IP.

Informational videos

Additional links/materials

For more information, contact:

InnovationOutreach@uspto.gov
571-272-8033

Office of International Patent Cooperation

About

The Office of International Patent Cooperation (OIPC) implements initiatives that make the international filing and prosecution system more efficient for intellectual property (IP) offices and users around the world. For example, OIPC works with the European Patent Office (EPO) to keep the jointly owned and operated Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) scheme up-to-date, which is used by examiners when searching. In addition, OIPC develops work sharing initiatives in which the work product generated by one IP office can be used by another IP office in its processing of a corresponding application directed to the same invention. Further, OIPC oversees USPTO’s administration of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), an international agreement that makes it possible for inventors to seek patent protection for an invention simultaneously in multiple countries by filing a single “international” patent application.

Informational videos

For more information, contact:

OIPC@uspto.gov
571-272-2IPC or 571-272-2472

Office of Patent Automation

About

Office of Patent Automation (OPA) – Patent Center incorporates patent application filing and management features in a single, user-friendly interface. Patent Center will be replacing Electronic Filing System - Web (EFS-Web) and Private Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Users can use existing USPTO.gov accounts and sponsorships that are currently used in EFS-Web and PAIR to access Patent Center. Patent Center features a training mode, which is an interactive simulation where users can safely practice filing DOCX and PDF documents.

Public PAIR retirement

Informational videos

Overview of filing DOCX documents in Patent Center

For more information, contact:

We welcome your continued suggestions through email to the eMod mailbox; and participation on IdeaScale. All ideas are reviewed and considered weekly.

For questions, technical issues or troubleshooting, please contact the Patent Electronic Business Center at ebc@uspto.gov or 866-217-9197, Monday - Friday, 6 a.m. - 12 a.m. ET.

Patents Application Assistance Unit

About

The Application Assistance Unit (AAU), within the Office of Patents Stakeholder Experience, assists with a broad range of questions and issues pertaining to pre-examination processing of patent applications by the Office of Patent Application Processing and the post-examination processing of patent applications by the Office of Data Management. For example, the AAU can provide assistance with questions related to the status of an application that is in the pre-examination or the post-examination phase of processing, filling receipts and missing parts letters.

For more information, contact:

HelpAAU@uspto.gov
Toll-free: 800-PTO-9199 (800-786-9199)
Local: 571-272-1000

TDD/TTY customers can dial 800-877-8339 for customer assistance

Patent and Trademark Resource Centers

Patent and trademark resource center program

About

Patent and Trademark Resource Centers (PTRCs) are a nationwide network of 83 public, state, and academic libraries designated by the USPTO to disseminate patent and trademark information. PTRCs support the diverse intellectual property needs of the public. PTRC librarians can help you learn to conduct a preliminary patent search or a preliminary trademark search. Examiners search tools are also available at PTRCs.

For more information, contact:

Patent and Trademark Resource Center Program (PTRCP)
PTRCOffice@uspto.gov

Patent Electronic Business Center

About

The Patent Electronic Business Center (EBC) at the USPTO assists customers with filing their electronic patent application submissions via the Electronic Filing System (EFS-Web) and the newest filing system, Patent Center, with the review of patent applications in Public and Private PAIR (Patent Application Information Retrieval), and Searching the Patent and Patent Application Full-Text and Image databases. The EBC also issues, administers, and supports the use of customer numbers and digital certificates for the access and use of EFS-Web, Patent Center and Private PAIR.

Informational videos

Quick overview of filing DOCX documents in Patent Center

Additional links/materials

For more information, contact:

EBC@uspto.gov
866-217-9197
571-272-4100

Patents Ombuds

About

The Patents Ombuds Office provides assistance to applicants and attorneys throughout the application process including initial filing, patent examination, and post-examination. We assist applicants when the normal processing has stalled, helping to get applications back on track. The Ombuds is not intended to circumvent normal communication between applicants or their representatives and examiners or supervisory patent examiners (SPEs) or Technology Center (TC) directors.

For more information, contact:

PatentsOmbudsOffice@uspto.gov
571-272-5555 or 855-559-8589

Office of Petitions

About

The USPTO's Office of Petitions (OPET), which is a centralized office within the agency's Patents unit, is responsible for reviewing and deciding most petitions, requests, and inquiries related to the prosecution of patent applications. OPET also maintains a help desk available to assist internal and external customers with petitions-related matters.

Informational videos

ePetition Video Demonstration

Additional links/materials

Patents Petitions Timeline: Provides applicants access to petitions that can be submitted during each stage of the patent prosecution process and information related to each specific petition and deciding office. The timeline also provides information on both the historical grant rates and the pendency of decided petitions. Statistical information is based on a 12-month rolling average.
Petition Data June 2021: Part of the Data Visualization Center providing applicants data on the most frequently filed petitions in the Office of Petitions, including pendency data and grant rate data.
ePetition Resource Page: Provides information and guidance regarding the submission, automatic processing, and immediate grant of ePetitions.
Office of Petitions webpage: Provides information about the general organization and operation of the Office of Petitions.

For more information, contact:

Petitions Help Desk: 571-272-3282
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, except federal holidays

Office of Policy and International Affairs

About

The USPTO’s Office of Policy and International Affairs (OPIA) assists the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property (IP) and Director of the USPTO in advising the President, through the Secretary of Commerce, and federal agencies on domestic and international IP issues as well as on United States treaty obligations. Comprised of experts in all areas of intellectual property law and policy, OPIA formulates U.S. domestic and international policy regarding protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights. The office promotes the development of intellectual property systems, nationally and internationally, and through a variety of activities, advocates improvements in and more effective means of protecting and enforcing intellectual property rights of United States nationals in the United States and throughout the world.

In addition to housing the USPTO’s Office of Government Affairs and Office of the Chief Economist, OPIA houses two resources highlighted in more detail on their Invention-Con 2022 Virtual booths: The Global IP Academy (GIPA) and the IP Attaché Program.

Patents for Humanity

Informational videos

Patents for Humanity Award Ceremony 2020

Additional links/materials

For more information, contact:

571-272-9300

Pro Se Assistance Program

About

The Pro Se Assistance Center, within the Office of Patents Stakeholder Experience, provides outreach and education to inventors who file patent applications without the assistance of a registered patent attorney or agent (also known as "pro se" filing).

Informational videos

For more information, contact:

InnovationDevelopment@uspto.gov
866-767-3848

Regional Offices

United States pap with the USPTO office locations

About

The USPTO operates the Eastern Regional Outreach Office at our headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, and four additional regional offices, including the Elijah J. McCoy Midwest Regional Office (Detroit, Michigan), Texas Regional Office (Dallas, Texas), Rocky Mountain Regional Office (Denver, Colorado), and Silicon Valley Regional Office (San Jose, California).

Combined, our offices provide services and resources to inventors, entrepreneurs, and small businesses across the United States. Our goal is to promote innovation and stimulate the economy by connecting entrepreneurs to government resources, supporting students and teachers through our STEM education programs, gathering feedback from regional stakeholders, and recruiting diverse talent from the region.

Each regional office offers a variety of services, including events, patent examiner interviews, teacher professional development and STEM workshops, consultations with patent and trademark experts, and Patent Trial and Appeal Board hearings. Additionally, each regional office collaborates with the network of Patent and Trademark Resource Centers.

Informational video

Overview of USPTO regional office support for inventors

Additional links/materials

For more information, contact:

Contact the regional office serving your area to learn more about what the USPTO can do for you:

Eastern Regional Outreach Office

Serving the Eastern United States, including Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Florida, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia
EasternRegionalOutreachOffice@uspto.gov
571-270-7100

Elijah J. McCoy Midwest Regional Office

Serving the Midwest region including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin
MidwestRegion@uspto.gov
313-446-4800

Rocky Mountain Regional Office

Serving the Rocky Mountain region, including Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming
RockyMountain@uspto.gov
303-297-4600

Silicon Valley Regional Office

Serving the West Coast region, including Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington
SiliconValley@uspto.gov
408-918-9900

Texas Regional Office

Serving Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas
TexasRegionalOffice@uspto.gov
469-295-9000

Small Business Liaison/Office of Procurement

About

The USPTO’s Office of Procurement is committed to ensuring small businesses have maximum practical procurement opportunities to become both prime contractors and subcontractors. Ongoing outreach incorporates innovative procurement technologies and strategies across a variety of contract vehicles, in order to further develop and expand industry partnerships. We are committed to integrating small businesses into our operations and providing them with opportunities to contribute to the future of domestic and global intellectual property protection.

To schedule a small business capabilities session, please fill out a Small Business Capabilities Input Form XLSX and send it to the Small Business Specialist and Industry Liaison.

Additional links/materials

Small business vendors information

For more information, contact:

Suzanne Casey
SmallBusiness@uspto.gov
571-272-3485

Stakeholder Education and Training Division

About

The Stakeholder Education and Training Division's (SETD), within the Office of Patents Stakeholder Experience, goal is to be the premier focal point to the intellectual property (IP) community for comprehensive patent related training and education by providing timely and innovative training products, delivery methods, and educational assistance. SETD's mission is to provide excellent education and training to the IP community by delivering curricula tailored to each specific stakeholder group, in order to provide a foundation, empowerment, and ongoing support to navigate the application and examination processes.

Additional links/materials

Stakeholder Application Readiness Training (StART)
A multi-day program designed to provide one-on-one (or individual) training and assistance to independent (pro se) inventors developing and filing their patent application.
Stakeholder Training on Examination Practice and Procedure (STEPP): If you are a patent attorney, agent, or inventor, it helps to think like a patent examiner. Get a better understanding of how examiners make decisions at our Stakeholder Training on Examination Practice and Procedure (STEPP). Whether in-person, or online, these courses are led by USPTO trainers and based on material used by USPTO employees. These courses are free, and continuing legal education (CLE) credit may be available.

For more information, contact:

STEPP@uspto.gov

Trademark Assistance Center

About

The Trademark Assistance Center (TAC) is the main support center for all customers, from first-time filers to legal professionals and experienced trademark applicants. We can answer your questions on a variety of trademark topics, but cannot provide legal advice.

Informational videos

Additional links/materials

Trademark Basics
Trademark Basics Boot Camp
Trademark Basics booklet
Trademark resources flyer PDF
How do trademarks and trade names differ flyer PDF
How do trademarks and domain names differ flyer PDF
Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS): Search online for pending and federally registered trademarks
Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS): Apply online and file forms and responses
Trademark Status and Document Retrieval system (TSDR): Check the status of and view or download copies of documents in pending applications and registrations
Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure (TMEP): Read the guidelines trademark examining attorneys follow when examining trademark applications

For more information, contact:

TrademarkAssistanceCenter@uspto.gov
800-786-9199 (press 1)

Trademark Trial and Appeal Board

About

The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) is an administrative board that hears and decides adversary proceedings between two parties, namely, oppositions (party opposes a mark after publication in the Official Gazette) and cancellations (party seeks to cancel an existing registration). The TTAB also handles interference and concurrent use proceedings, as well as appeals of final refusals issued by USPTO trademark examining attorneys within the course of the prosecution of trademark applications.

Informational videos

Additional links/materials

For more information, contact:

For general information about TTAB proceedings:
TTABInfo@uspto.gov
TTAB Assistance Center Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET
571-272-8500
800-786-9199

For technical assistance with ESTTA filings:
ESTTA@uspto.gov

Invention-Con: Assistance and resources

Federal agency assistance and resources

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About

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About

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About

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USPTO assistance and resources

About

Inventor uses the USPTO’s Patent Pro Bono Program to advance accessibility technology

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Inventor uses the USPTO’s Patent Pro Bono Program to advance accessibility technology

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About

The Global Intellectual Property Academy – An Overview

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The Global Intellectual Property Academy – An Overview

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About

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About

IP Attaché Program

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IP Attaché Program

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About

Science of Innovation -- What is Innovation?

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Science of Innovation -- What is Innovation?

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About

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About

Public PAIR retirement

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Public PAIR retirement

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About

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About

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