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February 2025

Greetings from Acting Director Stewart

This past month, we partnered with 15 other federal agencies to bring intellectual property (IP) protection expertise directly to inventors and entrepreneurs at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. With our partners, we engaged with 11,314 attendees, empowering them with resources to protect their IP. 

We were honored to unveil the USPTO's newest inventor trading card featuring robotics pioneer Ayanna Howard. A celebrated inventor, leader in AI, entrepreneur, engineer, and educator, she creates robots designed to interact with and adapt to children with special needs.

Ayanna Howard isn’t just building robots—she's helping build the future. Check out our Instagram reel celebrating her accomplishments and find her inventor card on the USPTO website. 

Ayanna recognizes the value of getting more Americans to bring their creativity and ideas to the table, to make the inventions that we all need: "Innovation comes in all shapes, colors, sizes, and ages, and that's so important for the American dream and our value system."  

Coke Morgan Stewart
Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Acting Director of the USPTO

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Resources to bring your products to market

Inventor spotlight: Noam Platt with LaceAble

USPTO resource used: First-Time Filer Expedited Examination Pilot Program

One of the clients at Noam Platt's nonprofit MakeGood had a problem. A recovering stroke survivor, the client could do almost everything independently—except tie his own shoes. Noam put his skills as a healthcare architect to work, collaborating with fellow designers at MakeGood to create LaceAble. This simple, 3D-printed product allows users to securely fasten their shoes one-handed, without the need for complicated knots or a complex tying process.   Noam realized that LaceAble could be useful not just for stroke survivors or people with disabilities, but for anyone. He knew his product was worth protecting.  Noam's patent attorney, Mark Melasky, directed him to the USPTO's First-Time Filer Expedited Examination Program, which offers faster application review at no additional cost to qualifying inventors new to the patent process.   Within three months, Noam received an office action from the patent examiner, and after working with Mark through a response to amend his patent claims, Noam was granted U.S. Patent No. 12,121,110 for a "lace tying device" in under a year. With patent protection, he launched his business, and a portion of that revenue goes directly to MakeGood.  Mark instantly recognized the value of the First-Time Filer program for independent inventors and small businesses: "For people who are just getting on their feet and thinking about where to allocate funds...when we can say hey, we've got this program available at no additional cost to you...people will jump on that. Because then they know if their business is going to be based on an invention that's going to have enforceable patent rights." If you're an inventor filing a nonprovisional patent application for the first time, the First-Time Filer Expedited Examination Pilot Program may help you get your innovation to the market faster. Visit the program webpage for more information and to see if your application qualifies.

Takeaways to help you combat copyright piracy 

We recently brought anti-piracy experts together to talk about trends in piracy and piracy prevention, and they provided helpful takeaways for entrepreneurs and inventors looking to use copyright protection to combat piracy:  Piracy has matured. While “free” torrent sites and cyberlockers still remain popular, there are now subscription sites with pirated TV and movies that can include splashy interfaces, billing departments, and customer service. It’s harder for consumers to tell the difference between legal and pirated content, since the piracy sites look like legitimate businesses.    While copyright registration with the U.S. Copyright Office is not mandatory for protection, there are several benefits, including stronger legal protections and the opportunity to seek statutory damages. Learn more about how to register your work.  If you come across pirated materials—or your copyrights are violated—there are options. We recommend you consult with an attorney or report the piracy to the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center).

USPTO services highlight

Successful inventing series covers the invention process from start to finish

If you’re taking your first steps in the invention process, our 2025 Successful Inventing series can help you move from idea development to getting your product on the market. Join us online with experts from the USPTO and the Licensing Executives Society —Silicon Valley Chapter for monthly sessions:  Successful Inventing: Product design, development, and prototypes (March 8 1:30-3 p.m. ET) Learn how you can create what consumers want and the importance of tailoring your product for different markets  Successful Inventing: Legal protection and early-stage funding (April 12 1:30-3 p.m. ET) Experts discuss intellectual property protection, including its importance for funding.  Successful Inventing: Licensing your product or concept (May 10 1:30-3 p.m. ET) Learn the pros and cons of licensing your invention.

Community outreach office brings IP education to northern New England 

We recently opened our first community outreach office at the University of New Hampshire in Durham. From this temporary location, the Northern New England Community Outreach Office is providing services and support to the area’s inventors, entrepreneurs, and small businesses. New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine innovators, learn more about what the Northern New England Office can do for you. 

We need to hear from you

Nominate a world-changing inventor to the National Inventors Hall of Fame 

You can help our partner, the National Inventors Hall of Fame (NIHF), recognize visionaries whose patented inventions have changed the world for the better. Learn more about NIHF and how you can nominate a potential inductee. The deadline for the next round of nominations for a future class of inductees is March 14.  NIHF recently announced its class of 2025 inductees. Watch their Instagram reel to learn more about the inventors and their inventions.

Volunteer to help improve our website 

As we roll out new features on our website, we welcome feedback to help us improve your customer experience. Sign up to volunteer in future research—interviews, prototype testing, or feedback sessions. Help us make your patent and trademark filing experience easier and more efficient, so you have time to focus on innovation and building your brand. 

P.S. Stay up to date with the latest news for inventors and entrepreneurs! Sign up to receive each issue of this newsletter.