Mountain West Community Engagement Office

NOTE: The Mountain West Community Engagement Office is unable to accept patent or trademark applications, correspondence related to prosecution, or fees. Please consider using our Patent Center for online filing. More information is available on our website: filing patent applications or filing trademark applications.

Patent one-on-one assistance

The Pro Se Assistance Center assist applicants who file patent applications without the assistance of a registered patent attorney or agent (also known as "pro se" applicants) with patent-related questions and with filing their patent applications. One-on-one video conference (Webex) or telephone appointments are available. For inquiries, contact the Pro Se Assistance Center. You may schedule one-on-one appointments online or by contacting the Pro Se Assistance Center.

Toll-free: 866-767-3848 or email ProSeAssistanceCenter@uspto.gov  
Monday - Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET (except federal holidays)

Schedule an appointment

Trademark one-on-one assistance

The Trademark Assistance Center (TAC) is the main support center for trademark customers, from first-time filers to legal professionals and experienced trademark applicants. You can call or email TAC if you have questions about the trademark registration process.

TAC specialists can also assist you via video chat on Microsoft Teams. Call or email to make an appointment.

Toll-free: 800-786-9199 or email TrademarkAssistanceCenter@uspto.gov 
Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET (except federal holidays)

Inventors Assistance Center

The Inventors Assistance Center (IAC) provides patent assistance and information to the public. The IAC is staffed by former supervisory patent examiners and primary examiners who are available to answer questions and help you file a patent application simple and efficient.

Toll-free: 800-PTO-9199 (800-786-9199) 
Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET (except federal holidays)

Mountain West Community Engagement Office

If you wish to schedule a 30-minute, in-person or virtual appointment with the Mountain West Community Engagement Office (CEO) staff about intellectual property (IP) related topics including careers at the USPTO, please email MountainWest@uspto.gov.

In-person appointments are conducted at the Mountain West CEO located in the University of Utah’s Research Park in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Virtual appointments with the Mountain West CEO are intended for residents of Colorado, Nebraska, and Utah. If you are a resident of another state, please refer to our USPTO Locations map for engagement with the USPTO office that serves your state, or contact the appropriate assistance center listed above.

Please keep in mind, USPTO staff cannot provide direct legal or business strategy advice, including helping to draft your application. If you have a pending application and an attorney or agent of record, USPTO staff are limited to the type of assistance that can be provided without your representative being present.

Search patentsSearch trademarks

You can search USPTO collections online. Learn how to use Patent Public Search to search for patents and the Trademark Search system to search for trademarks.

Are you new to patent or trademark searching? Visit a Patent and Trademark Resource Center near you. Librarians are trained by the USPTO to introduce you to the patent and trademark application process.

As Acting Community Engagement Office Director of the Mountain West Community Engagement Office, Ken Takeda carries out the strategic outreach direction of the USPTO's Office of Public Engagement and ensures that USPTO initiatives and programs are tailored to the region's unique ecosystem of industries and stakeholders. For questions, email MountainWest@uspto.gov.