Resources
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Disclaimer: The Collegiate Inventors Competition (CIC) is providing links to the various websites listed in the resource section because these sites may contain information that may be of interest to students and advisors. Please understand that by clicking on the links you are exiting the Collegiate Inventors Competition Web Site. The CIC (nor the National Inventors Hall of Fame Foundation) does not necessarily endorse the views expressed or the facts presented on these sites. In addition, the CIC (nor the National Inventors Hall of Fame Foundation) does not endorse any commercial products that may be advertised or available on any of these sites.
SAMPLE APPLICATION MATERIALS
Section B: Essay
Section C: Patentability/Literature Searches (see attached .PDF)
Section E: Advisor Letter
GENERAL PATENT AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY INFORMATION
Inventor Resources Page
http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/com/iip/index.htm
This site provides basic information for new inventors, including answers to frequently asked questions such as “What is a patent?, What can and cannot be patented? and How do I know if my invention is patentable?” Guides for use in filing provisional applications for patents and utility patent applications are also found on this site.
The USPTO Inventors Assistance Center (IAC)
http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/dapp/pacmain.html
The Inventors Assistance Center (IAC) provides patent information and services to the public. The IAC is staffed by former Supervisory Patent Examiners and experienced Primary Examiners who answer general questions concerning patent examining policy and procedure. Visit the site to find out what types of information the IAC can and cannot provide. The IAC is open Monday-Friday, 8:30am -5:30pm (EST). The phone numbers to reach the IAC are 800.786.9199 or 572.272.1000. Be sure to check the Frequently Asked Questions sections of the USPTO website before calling the IAC. Your question may have already been asked and answered.
PATENTABILITY / LITERATURE SEARCH
Examples of Patentability/Literature Searches (see attached .PDF)
Electronic Patent Searching and Navigating the USPTO Website
- Power Point presentation
This presentation was given at the annual Independent Inventors Conference sponsored by the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the National Inventors Hall of Fame Foundation in August 2007. It is provided here for educational purposes only and may not reflect recent updates or changes to the USPTO website.
Patent and Trademark Depository Library Program
A Patent and Trademark Depository Library (PTDL) is a library designated by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to receive and house copies of U.S. patents and patent and trademark materials, to make those materials freely available to the public, and to actively disseminate patent and trademark information. Virtually every state has at least one PTDL and PTDL staff are available in those locations to provide training to the public on U.S. patent search processes and research tools including the Cassis DVD-ROM system, the PubWEST database, and the USPTO website.
http://www.uspto.gov/go/ptdl/index.html
To find a PTDL near your college/university click here
http://www.uspto.gov/go/ptdl/ptdlib_1.html
7-Step U.S. Patent Search Strategy
The PTDL has a “Quick Start” guide to conducting a patent search. You can find the “7-Step U. S. Patent Search Strategy” here or here.
On-line Patent Search Tutorial
The Patent and Trademark Depository Library at the McKinney Engineering Library located at the University of Texas at Austin has an on-line tutorial on patent searching on their Web site. While the tutorial was designed for use with the Austin library and its particular resources, the fundamentals of patent searching remain the same for any location. http://www.lib.utexas.edu/engin/patent-tutorial/index.htm
In addition to the myriad of resources provided on this page you may also be able to find additional information on how to conduct a patent/literature search by typing the key phrase “How to Conduct a Patent Search” into your search engine of choice.
INVENTION PROMOTION FIRMS/Students Beware!
Individuals should be extremely cautious when dealing with invention promotion companies. Please conduct research to make sure that any company that you are working with (or are considering working with) is reputable. Both the Federal Trade Commission and the USPTO have on-line publications designed to help consumers avoid invention promotion scams and improper business practices among such companies.
To view the Federal Trade Commission's Consumer Alert "Spotting Sweet-Sounding Promises of Fraudulent Invention Promotion Firms" go to: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/products/pro21.pdf
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/invnalrt.shtm
To view the USPTO publication “Top Ten SCAM Warning Signs “ go to:
http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/com/iip/documents/scamprevent.pdf
You can find a list of published complaints against inventor promotion companies by visiting http://www1.uspto.gov/go/com/iip/complaints.htm
SPONSORS
National Inventors Hall of Fame Foundation: www.invent.org
Abbott Fund: www.abbottfund.org
United States Patent and Trademark Office: www.uspto.gov
ORGANIZATIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS
American Association for the Advancement of
Science: www.aaas.org
American Chemical Society: www.acs.org
American Physical Society: www.aps.org
Institute of Electrical and Electronics
Engineers: www.ieee.org
Licensing Executives Society: www.usa-canada.les.org
Triangle Coalition for Science & Technology
Education: www.trianglecoalition.org
GOVERNMENT RESOURCES
National Science Foundation: www.nsf.gov
U.S. Department of Energy: www.energy.gov
U.S. Department of Education: www.ed.gov
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