Who can help file a patent?

04.22.15

First of all, our favorite answer is ​“Use us! We are great people and wonderful attorneys.” However, inventors aren’t always ready to hire an attorney in private practice. So what is an inventor to do? First, you can always contact us with questions. We also have seminars and workshops throughout the year to allow you to come and learn. 

In addition, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is hosting a free webinar on Thursday, May 21, 2015 from 1:00 – 4:00 pm Central Time to inform inventors about resources available through the USPTO Pro Se, Pro Bono, and the Law School Clinic Certification Program to help inventors protect their inventions in. The webinar is also an opportunity to more about the patent system. The webinar promises to feature discussions and question and answer sessions with agency experts on the following topics:

• Availability of free attorney representation in nearly all states for under-resourced independent inventors and small businesses in filing and prosecuting patent applications through the Patent Pro Bono Program;
• Availability of free assistance in drafting and filing either patent or trademark applications through various law school clinics across the country; and
• Resources for inventors to learn about the patent application process and how to file their own applications as pro se applicants (i.e., without legal representation).

A detailed event agenda and webinar access instructions are available at: http://​www​.usp​to​.gov/​p​a​t​e​n​t​/​i​n​i​t​i​a​t​i​v​e​s​/​e​x​e​c​u​t​i​v​e​-​a​c​t​i​o​n​s​/​u​s​p​t​o​-​w​e​b​i​n​a​r​-​p​a​t​e​n​t​-​p​r​o​-​s​e​-​p​r​o​-​b​o​n​o​-​a​n​d​-​l​a​w​-​s​c​h​o​o​l​-​c​linic.

And last but not least, we work with the University of Wisconsin Law School’s Law and Entrepreneurship Clinic. The Law & Entrepreneurship Clinic provides free legal services to nascent entrepreneurs and early stage companies through the work of law students supervised by faculty and private sector attorneys. A potential clinic client must submit an application. After application, the potential client is invited to a client screening where they are screened based on lean startup principles to evaluate their legal needs and business readiness. If the business is ready for legal services with the Law & Entrepreneurship Clinic, they will evaluate of necessary services and determine if and how the Clinic can provide quality professional services. If the Clinic can’t provide services for some reason, they often try to refer the client to someone who can help whether that is legal or other help. And, when it is a legal need, we are back to our favorite answer of ​“Use us! We are great people and wonderful attorneys.” 

• Intellectual Property |
• Patent