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 January 2025
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Greetings from Acting Director Brent |
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We've officially crossed triple digits! More than 100 libraries across the country and U.S. territories are now Patent and Trademark Resource Centers (PTRCs). In the last two months alone, we've added Tuskegee University, the University of the Virgin Islands, Oregon State University, and the Multnomah County Library in Portland, Oregon, to the PTRC network.
Both Tuskegee University and the University of the Virgin Islands are Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), bringing the total number of HBCUs in the program to seven.
 If you want to patent an invention or register a trademark, you don’t have to navigate the process by yourself. Find out how PTRCs can help.
PTRCs are a go-to resource right in your backyard, offering free assistance to inventors and entrepreneurs in their communities. These expert librarians can connect you with online resources, provide research consultations and trainings, and help you find the information you need to protect your intellectual property.
Last year alone, PTRCs helped more than 6,000 individuals through their programs.
 Northern Arizona University’s Cline Library joined the PTRC network in October, connecting the Lumberjack community and region with valuable patent and trademark assistance.
This fall, we celebrated PTRC grand openings from Utah to Arizona to Mississippi to Maryland, and we're not done: the University of Louisville is about to put Kentucky back on the PTRC map.
We don't want this to be innovation's best kept secret. We encourage you to access the free resources available right at your fingertips to help you protect your invention and grow your business. Find your closest PTRC and get started today.
Derrick Brent
Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Acting Director of the USPTO
P.S. Stay up to date with the latest news for inventors and entrepreneurs! Sign up to receive each issue of this newsletter.
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Resources to help bring your products to market |
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Program spotlight: First-Time Filer Expedited Examination Pilot Program
Five tips to help you successfully apply
If you’re filing a patent application for the first time, our First-Time Filer Expedited Examination Pilot Program offers faster application review and can help you get your innovation to the market faster.
Follow these five tips to successfully apply for the program:
- Wait to file your petition for the program (Form PTO/SB/464) until a filing receipt is issued and you're sure your application is complete to avoid any issues.
- Review the fees associated with your patent application on the current USPTO fee schedule.
- All parties named as the applicant must file the certification of micro entity status form based on gross income (Form PTO/SB/15A).
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Make sure all parties named as the applicant file the program petition form (Form PTO/SB/464).
- If the application is being filed by joint inventor-applicants, either:
- A registered patent practitioner must sign a single copy of the petition form, OR
- Each joint inventor-applicant must sign a separate copy of the petition form.
- Be sure to clearly identify the number of petition forms that are being submitted in the section at the bottom of the petition form
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Make sure only authorized parties sign the certification of micro entity status form (Form PTO/SB/15A) and the program petition form (Form PTO/SB/464):
- A registered patent practitioner,
- An inventor who is named as the sole inventor and identified as the applicant, OR
- All of the joint inventors who are identified as the applicant.
Visit the program webpage for more information and to see if your application qualifies.
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Use Trademark Center to apply to register your trademark
On January 18, Trademark Center will become the only way to apply for a trademark registration. Draft and file your trademark application in this new online system, which includes helpful features designed to improve your filing experience:
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A mobile-friendly design
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A guided user interface
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Drafts that automatically save every 60 seconds
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Transparent application costs that update as you go
- A draft-sharing feature for attorneys and their sponsored support staff
Visit the Trademark Center webpage to learn more about the system and upcoming training opportunities.
Path to a Patent and Trademark Basics Boot Camp series restarts this month
The virtual Path to a Patent series covers the patenting process from intellectual property basics, to patent searching, to what you’ll need to draft and submit your patent application. The eight-part series begins January 16 and runs through March 27.
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Get ready for the next virtual Trademark Basics Boot Camp series, from January 7 to February 25. This eight-part series delivers weekly trainings covering the federal trademark registration process from pre-filing to post-registration. Each session includes a question-and-answer portion and is self-contained, so you can attend the full series or only the modules that you’re interested in. |
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Combating copyright piracy
Hear from legal experts on how you can use digital technologies to fight piracy at our anti-piracy symposium, happening virtually and in person on January 23 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET at USPTO headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia.
We’ll explore issues affecting U.S. rights holders in the film, music, and publishing industries and brief attendees on:
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Recent copyright case law
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The latest tools and techniques for investigating and addressing copyright piracy
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International copyright piracy updates
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Avoid trademark scams with these tips
Trademark scams are on the rise, and scammers are using increasingly devious and creative means to trick USPTO customers. Here are practical tips for protecting yourself and your brand:
- The USPTO will never contact you to demand fees or personal information over the phone, in an email, or text, or to scare you. You only pay application filing fees through Trademark Center and pay fees for all other forms through the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS). We never collect payment by check, online money transfer, cash, or third-party mobile payment services.
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All trademark registration and maintenance fees and deadlines are publicly available on USPTO.gov. You can verify fees and deadlines two ways:
- The USPTO will not pressure you to act immediately. Be wary if you receive a communication requiring you to immediately take an action, particularly if a payment is involved. Scammers often demand immediate action or payment that's not due, and this is usually accompanied by a threat of losing your trademark rights if you don't pay.
- Don’t assume an unexpected call, email, or text is legitimate. Scammers often try to impersonate the USPTO. If you receive communications that you’re concerned about, contact the Trademark Assistance Center or your attorney if you're represented.
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Get the latest key findings on patent quality at the Public Engagement Partnership meeting
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On January 22 from noon to 1 p.m. ET, join us virtually for the fifth Public Engagement Partnership meeting to learn how we’re gathering customer input on patent quality. You’ll also hear about recent key findings in this area, including how we’ll use the data to support our efforts to ensure strong intellectual property rights. |
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Public Advisory Committees: A voice for inventors and entrepreneurs
Quarterly meetings open to the public
The Patent Public Advisory Committee (PPAC) and the Trademark Public Advisory Committee (TPAC) represent the interests of inventors and entrepreneurs across the country. These two committees review the policies, goals, performance, budget, and user fees of the patent and trademark operations and advise the Director on the best way to move the agency forward.
Interested in getting involved? You can attend PPAC and TPAC quarterly public meetings to hear the latest updates on patent and trademark operations. Learn more on the Public Advisory Committees webpage.
P.S. Stay up to date with the latest news for inventors and entrepreneurs! Sign up to receive each issue of this newsletter.
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