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Pro Se

This page is designed for those inventors that are either filing on their own behalf (pro se) or are seeking free or greatly reduced services from patent professionals.  This page is meant to be actively dynamic so that as rules change or practices before the United States Patent and Trademark Office change the page will be updated with current information.  The pro se portion of the page will eventually contain training on the patent process, training on search techniques, sample provisional applications and direct links to forms and fees needed for filing a patent application.  The pro bon portion of the page will eventually contain vital information about the pro bono program as it increases in size to eventually cover the entire United States.  Initially the page will include a training package with a certification certificate for successfully completing the training.  This certification is one of many requirements to be considered for pro bono assistance.  There will also be a link to a national screening program for admittance into any regional pro bono program.  This process will be further explained on the pro bono page.

 

https://uspto.connectsolutions.com/basicpatenttrainingforindependentinventors/

Pro Bono

The America Invents Act encourages the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to “work with and support intellectual property law associations across the country in the establishment of pro bono programs designed to assist financially under-resourced independent inventors and small businesses.”  The USPTO has been interacting with IP law associations to assist in the establishment of such programs and the first program was launched in June 2011 with the Minnesota pilot program.  An additional 5 programs are slated to begin operation during 2012.  The USPTO is now reaching out to many additional areas for further programs with the goal of opening their doors during 2013.  Additionally, a national pro bono Task Force has been formed that includes the major IP law Association, members from the USPTO, the Federal Circuit Judiciary and others.  The Task Force assists new programs and encourages additional programs in forming. The overall goal of the USPTO and the Task Force is to have the entire country covered by pro bono assistance for financially under-resourced inventors so that no worthy invention is left undiscovered.

 

https://uspto.connectsolutions.com/certificationpackage/

United States Patent and Trademark Office
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Last Modified: 4/6/2012 2:04:50 PM