1 00:00:05,270 --> 00:00:06,810 My name is Kimberly Armstrong. 2 00:00:06,810 --> 00:00:09,790 I'm a small business owner here in Maryland. 3 00:00:09,790 --> 00:00:15,110 And we are an environmentally sustainable development consulting firm, and we also have 4 00:00:15,110 --> 00:00:22,040 a component where we are looking at introducing innovation in biomedical technology as it 5 00:00:22,052 --> 00:00:26,372 relates to health disparities in minority communities. 6 00:00:31,672 --> 00:00:39,812 I was a little familiar with the patent program from just my own research and basic information. 7 00:00:39,820 --> 00:00:46,050 So I did a search on how to develop patent and what's the process. 8 00:00:46,050 --> 00:00:47,900 And where do I start? 9 00:00:47,900 --> 00:00:51,130 Even how to get a patent filed. 10 00:00:51,130 --> 00:00:57,640 I found that they had a pro bono services program and it was a process that you had 11 00:00:57,640 --> 00:01:00,000 to go through to quantify. 12 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:02,240 I once again started doing my own research. 13 00:01:02,252 --> 00:01:04,390 I made a couple of phone calls. 14 00:01:04,412 --> 00:01:08,872 Um, found out some of the things I had to do to get the ball rolling. 15 00:01:14,890 --> 00:01:21,312 The process does ask you about your income level, economic status, and you have to meet 16 00:01:21,340 --> 00:01:25,329 a certain requirement to even do the application. 17 00:01:25,329 --> 00:01:31,219 All of it's online so you can, um, it's just a link to click on and fill out the application 18 00:01:31,219 --> 00:01:33,869 and someone will get back to you. 19 00:01:33,869 --> 00:01:35,639 The next step was like a tutorial. 20 00:01:35,639 --> 00:01:37,920 They actually, it's like a little quiz. 21 00:01:37,920 --> 00:01:45,189 They ask you to go through, so you understand what the process is, and actually filing a 22 00:01:45,189 --> 00:01:51,740 patent application as well as some of the other things that you will have to do to be 23 00:01:51,740 --> 00:01:53,110 accepted. 24 00:01:53,112 --> 00:01:57,652 In the end, if you pass, you get a nice little certificate. 25 00:02:04,619 --> 00:02:10,912 After I was accepted into the program maybe, I would say, between two to four weeks someone 26 00:02:10,920 --> 00:02:19,080 from a law firm called me and gave me some more information on, you know, what was the 27 00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:20,870 next step. 28 00:02:20,870 --> 00:02:27,500 My expectation on them, as well as their expectations for me and they, wanted to know more about 29 00:02:27,512 --> 00:02:29,212 the technology. 30 00:02:33,852 --> 00:02:39,632 You have to sign an engagement letter, that's an agreement that they are going to represent 31 00:02:39,640 --> 00:02:45,120 us, as well as, even though it's pro bono, there are services... there are some fees 32 00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:48,510 that have to be paid. 33 00:02:48,510 --> 00:02:55,640 Those fees are strictly for the patent office, not so much for the law firm. 34 00:02:55,640 --> 00:03:02,450 There's also a disclosure form, talking about the technology, what's the novelty of it, 35 00:03:02,450 --> 00:03:04,360 what's the name of it, those kinds of things. 36 00:03:04,360 --> 00:03:12,430 Once we did the disclosure form, um, they look at that to determine what it is we may 37 00:03:12,430 --> 00:03:19,360 need... more information and to put everything we can think about into the application, so 38 00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:24,320 there is less room to go back and forth. 39 00:03:24,320 --> 00:03:28,470 The company, the law firm I'm working with - they have been excellent! 40 00:03:28,470 --> 00:03:35,180 They had been tremendous and helped us brainstorming on what else we can put into the application 41 00:03:35,180 --> 00:03:40,310 so that there is more of a chance that it gets accepted. On almost the first time. 42 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:46,000 You can't get better than free! 43 00:03:46,030 --> 00:03:49,940 I mean, or at least at minimum cost. 44 00:03:49,940 --> 00:03:55,260 Its not costing me a lot of money, even for the fees. 45 00:03:55,260 --> 00:03:59,260 It's really not a lot and we pay those up front. 46 00:03:59,260 --> 00:04:03,601 If the process takes a little bit longer, there may be some additionals fees but still, 47 00:04:03,601 --> 00:04:07,860 it's nothing compared to what I paid before.