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Master intellectual property fundamentals with these programs and resources

United States Patent and Trademark Office sent this bulletin at 03/07/2025 01:14 PM EST

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Inside the USPTO: A resource guide for inventors

March 2025

Resources to bring your products to market

Inventor spotlight: Dr. Ameerah Bello with the Junior Counter

USPTO resource used: Patent Pro Bono Program

Dr. Ameerah Bello holding Junior Counters

When she traveled to Japan for the 1995 World University Games as a member of the U.S. Virgin Islands athletic delegation, Dr. Ameera Bello visited a local school. She was inspired by students’ comfort with and proficiency in mathematics—a subject that had always given her anxiety. They used the abacus to learn math step-by-step.

When Dr. Bello started homeschooling her twin daughters years later, she researched effective ways to teach math and thought back to those students. She took the traditional abacus and made it her own, creating the Jr. Counter. Her improvements allowed users to manually add and subtract pieces, making the device accessible for young children just beginning their math studies.

She started exploring how she could protect her innovation and found her regional Patent Pro Bono Program in a Google search. Her volunteer patent attorney helped her file a patent application in 2019.

She stayed dedicated throughout the process, working with her patent examiner and attorney to adjust technical language and drawings. In 2022, she obtained U.S. Patent No. 11,314,275 for her improved abacus. She now prioritizes selling her innovative tool to school systems.

Now it’s your turn. If you’re an inventor or small business owner, you may be eligible for free legal assistance in preparing and filing a patent application. Learn more about the Patent Pro Bono Program and its requirements on the program webpage.

Learn the fundamentals of applying for a patent

Get a “head start” on the patent application process with the Stakeholder Application Readiness Training (StART) program, a free three-day virtual workshop that covers the fundamentals of utility patent applications. Happening March 25-27, the training will also provide one-on-one assistance to help you prepare and file your patent application. Capacity is limited: Submit an interest form before March 18 if you want to attend.

IP basics and helpful resources

Build your understanding of patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets in this one-hour webinar, offered monthly. It includes:

An overview of intellectual property (IP) types
Why inventors and entrepreneurs should consider protecting their IP
Local resources and assistance available through the USPTO and other agencies

View the schedule and register today.

Patent and trademark know-how at your fingertips

Path to a Patent series

Part VII: How to file a patent application using Patent Center – March 20, 2-3 p.m. ET: USPTO experts walk through how to use Patent Center to file and manage patent documents online, including using training mode to practice filing.

Part VIII: Common mistakes and post-filing support – March 27, 2-3 p.m. ET: Learn common mistakes to avoid in the patent application process and gain a better understanding of post-filing procedures and support.

Trademark events

Federal trademark searching: Overview – March 21 and April 4, 3-4 p.m. ET: New users and basic search enthusiasts, get an introduction to the trademark search system. We’ll cover why you should search, basic search strategies, and common searches.

Federal trademark filing: Overview – March 14 and 28, 3-4 p.m. ET: Learn the fundamentals of the Trademark Center filing system. This webinar includes a pre-filing checklist, filing demo, and information on where to find help.

Trademark Basics Boot Camp – starting April 1: If you’re a small business owner or entrepreneur looking to protect your brand and product identities, Trademark Basics Boot Camp is for you. Get a comprehensive overview of the federal trademark registration process. You can attend the entire eight-part series or just the modules that best match your interests.

USPTO services highlight

New multifactor authentication options to more securely access USPTO systems

We're moving to more secure multifactor authentication (MFA) methods to keep your information safer when you log in to systems with your USPTO.gov account. If you're using SMS text messages or voice calls as a second factor to verify your identity, you must set up an alternate method by April 30 to avoid impacts to your service.

Learn more about the change and the alternate MFA options available.

Data enthusiasts: New Open Data Portal provides quick, easy access to USPTO data

Whether you’re a data researcher or novice, our new Open Data Portal has the rich and relevant data you need, now with a new, easy-to-use interface. The portal helps anyone who wants to quickly access, customize, and extract USPTO data. Learn more.

Relief for those affected by California wildfires

We recently published a notice of relief for patent and trademark applicants, patentees, reexamination parties, and registered trademark owners affected by the wildfires in California. Find more information in the Official Gazette Notice, available on the USPTO’s Patent Related Notices webpage.

Join the conversation

Follow us on social media

Screenshot of social media post for National Inventors Day featuring Charu Thomas

Are you following @USPTO on X, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram? Tune in to our accounts for amazing inventor and entrepreneur stories, interesting IP history, and valuable tips on how you can successfully secure patents and trademarks. We’ll see you online!

Screenshot of social media post: 5 Common Mistakes People Make on Patent Applications

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