Before you file your patent application, you need to conduct a prior art search. Learn to search databases used by patent examiners on the USPTO Universal Public Workstations (UPWS) publicly available at the regional office. This event and UPWS accounts are free and open to the public. Space is limited, so register early.
A supervisory patent examiner will cover important questions, including:
- What are the benefits of searching?
- Where can you search?
- When should you search?
- How do you search using USPTO search tools?
This session will be useful for inventors, entrepreneurs, and those who have a beginning to intermediate knowledge of patents and would like to learn more about patent searching.
The May 5 session will only include the lecture portion of the presentation on how to search patents, and it will be available for remote viewing via WebEx for those registered to attend. The hands-on portion of the presentation involving use of the USPTO Universal Public Workstations (UPWS) will not be available this month.
Please note that the Silicon Valley USPTO is a federal facility. Attendees are required to present a valid form of government-issued identification (driver license or passport) and may be subject to screening to gain access.
This event is accessible to individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation, including captioning, sign language interpreting, or other, please email siliconvalley@uspto.gov or call 408-918-9900.