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A look back at the highlights of July 2024 |
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A Black American inventor known best for improving a carbon filament for the incandescent light bulb, Lewis Latimer used his childhood experiences, military training, and innovative mindset to fight back against the racist beliefs of the time and leave a lasting positive change in the world. |
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Bringing light for all
The clip-clop of horseshoes and the slow creaking of carriage wheels on the tarmacadam streets of London welcomed the two weary American travelers after more than one month at sea on New Year’s Day, 1882. Accompanied by his wife, 33-year-old Lewis Latimer arrived with a daunting task before him: the electrified illumination of a city famous for its fog.
Read the full story
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Director Vidal discusses pendency and other USPTO initiatives at a recent meeting. (Photo by Jay Premack/USPTO) |
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Working together to tackle patent and trademark pendency
An efficient and reliable intellectual property (IP) system is critical to innovating, brand building, creating jobs, and solving problems, both here in the United States and around the world. That is why, in addition to our critical policy work—including issuing guidance, engaging in rulemaking, participating in international measures and treaties, providing technical assistance to Congress, and working in the courts—we at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) have been laser-focused on our operations, including, importantly, pendency.
Director's blog by Kathi Vidal | Continue reading
From military service to the USPTO and back
Major Kayley Squire, an Air Force strategic policy fellow and the USPTO’s outgoing senior military advisor, spoke recently with Public Affairs Specialist Christy Whitaker about Squire’s Air Force fellowship with the USPTO and the role she played in enhancing the agency's military outreach initiative.
Guest blog by Christy Whitaker | Continue reading
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At this year's National Summer Teacher Institute, educators explored IP, innovation, and science, technology, engineering, and math concepts to learn how to engage their students in authentic projects and problem-based learning spanning all fields of study. The professional development experience supports the agency’s core objectives to drive inclusive American innovation and expand access to the innovation ecosystem. (Photo by Jay Premack/USPTO) |
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National Summer Teacher Institute 2024
This month, we hosted more than 80 teachers in this year’s National Summer Teacher Institute (NSTI) at USPTO headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia. Teachers learned about invention education to bring creativity, innovation, and problem-solving concepts to their classrooms.
“We know that teachers are so important in our communities across the country, and they are really cultivating the next generation of innovators and creators and entrepreneurs,” said Maggie Dressel, acting director of the teachers and classrooms program for the USPTO. “We are committed to helping the educators learn about intellectual property (IP) and become comfortable with those concepts and then take it to the young people who will grow up and invent things that might change the world.”
Learn more about NSTI
USPTO issues AI subject matter eligibility guidance
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a guidance update on patent subject matter eligibility to address innovation in critical and emerging technologies, including in artificial intelligence (AI). This guidance update will assist USPTO personnel and stakeholders in determining subject matter eligibility under patent law (35 § U.S.C. 101) of AI inventions. This latest update builds on previous guidance by providing further clarity and consistency to how the USPTO and applicants should evaluate subject matter eligibility of claims in patent applications and patents involving inventions related to AI technology. The guidance update also announces three new examples of how to apply this guidance throughout a wide range of technologies.
Learn more about the new guidance
USPTO welcomes U.S. Copyright Office report on digital replicas
Today, the United States Copyright Office (USCO) released Copyright and Artificial Intelligence Part 1: Digital Replicas – the first in a planned multipart report on copyright-related legal and policy issues associated with the emergence of AI technology. This report addresses legal and policy issues surrounding AI-generated digital replicas, or the use of digital technology to realistically replicate an individual’s voice or appearance.
Learn more about the Copyright and AI report
Find all upcoming and past events at https://www.uspto.gov/about-us/events.
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With their bulky space suits and oxygen packs, NASA astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin became the first humans to walk on the moon on this day in 1969. The innovative space suits took center stage as the Apollo 11 mission was watched by millions of people across the globe. The space suit was designed for high altitude flights – particularly space missions for the Apollo space program.
Read more in the original post on Instagram |
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 We’ve been managing your patents and trademarks for decades—and some people still don’t know who we are 🤦
We have a lot of love for the millions of innovators, entrepreneurs, and business owners that we serve every day. So, say it with us: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office!
View original post on Instagram
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 #OTD in 1945, Dorothy Vincelle received a patent for a shampoo cap designed to lather hair and massage the scalp that eliminated runny soap on faces. Once on, a person would press down with fingers to allow the suction cups to clean the scalp. Bonus: It stimulated blood flow.
View original post on X
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 For 57 years, 7-Eleven has been protecting its iconic semi-frozen soft drink, the Slurpee.
The drink was created in the late 1950s, when restaurateur Omar Knedlik’s soda fountain broke. He put soda in the freezer, which sparked his idea to create the frozen beverage. At first, he used an automobile air conditioner to build a simple frozen beverage machine, according to the company.
In 1962, he received patent No. 3,044,878 for his “process for the preparation of a beverage” to make the semi-frozen beverage. By 1966, the machines were installed in all 7-11 stores to make different flavors of Slurpees, according to the company.
View original post on Facebook
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 #OTD in 1969, Hasbro's game Twister was patented!
The "apparatus for playing a game wherein the players constitute the game pieces” introduced a dynamic playing surface where players place their hands and feet on designated spots based on a chance device. The objective? To outmaneuver opponents and avoid falling to the ground.
View original post on LinkedIn
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