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If you're looking for the official source of information about the USPTO, please visit www.uspto.gov. We look forward to your comments and ideas. We welcome you to follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/uspto. You can also subscribe to a variety of newsletters and alerts through our Subscription Center at www.uspto.gov/subscribe. The USPTO reserves the right to delete any comments for any
Operating as usual
“Where do you see yourself in five years?”
The USPTO needs your help answering that question, which is why we’re asking for feedback on our next strategic plan. View the draft plan and submit your thoughts by February 17: bit.ly/2MnHd2C
Educators: Don’t forget to sign up for this month’s K-12 educators webinar! Learn about our National Summer Teacher Institute from Reggie Duncan, an alumnus of the program and recipient of the Presidential Award for Mathematics and Science Teaching. Reggie enjoyed the program so much he came to work for us – he’s now an education program specialist at the USPTO.
Want to hear more about this one-of-a-kind professional development opportunity? Register now: bit.ly/3VFhn9e
Women entrepreneurs: Join us for our next event on Wednesday, February 22 at 11:30 a.m. MT, virtually or in person in Phoenix. We will welcome leaders in the intellectual property (IP) community and women entrepreneurs who will share their stories and tips on how to find and secure funding for your business. Register today: bit.ly/3Js0pZA
Confirmed speakers include:
🎤 Kathi Vidal, Director of the USPTO
🎤 Alika Kumar, Executive Director, Arizona US Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Center
🎤 Crys Waddell, Creative Strategist and Chief Operating Officer, Hustle PHX
🎤 Additional speakers coming soon
This event is part of the Women's Entrepreneurship (WE) initiative. WE is a community-focused, collaborative, and creative initiative to encourage and empower more women founders across America. For questions about this initiative, contact [email protected] or visit the WE page on the USPTO's website: bit.ly/USPTO-WE
Elsie, Edna, and Louise Frankfurt started their maternity-wear firm, Page Boy, in 1937, but it was after World War II that business really took off for the entrepreneurial sisters. The postwar baby boom favored businesses like Page Boy, and by 1947, Page Boy had grown to 100 employees, almost all of them women. The increasing number of pregnant women choosing to continue to work in offices, and therefore needing fashionable pregnancy outfits, helped Page Boy thrive even after the baby boom had ended.
Read our story to learn how the Frankfurt sisters supported women in the workplace, both through fashion and as job creators: http://bit.ly/3X2ofPa
Five-year-old Gabby Goodwin had a problem: she kept losing her hair barrettes at school. Inspired by a family friend, Gabby and her mom, Rozalynn, embarked on a quest to find a better product. When they couldn’t find one, they invented their own solution: GaBBy Bows, a double-sided barrette.
The results? Patents, trademarks, and a company where Gabby markets her own products and teaches other girls and moms how to start their own businesses.
Do you know a young inventor looking to turn ideas into reality? Check out our resources for kids, students, and educators: bit.ly/3LENa6Y
On February 28, learn how diverse teams at Pheronym, From Farms to Incubators, and the Invasive Species Control Corporation & Foundation achieved successes with agricultural innovations in the third program. Hear stories of perseverance and best practices from accomplished women innovators, and discover valuable resources that you can use to secure funding and protect your intellectual property (IP). Register today: bit.ly/3QVCd3h
Don't miss the next installment in our ongoing Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Emerging Technologies (ET) Partnership Series! Join us on February 8 to explore patent policy issues impacted by AI and ET in AI-driven innovation. Learn more about the program in our recently-released federal register notice and sign up to attend either virtually or in-person in Dallas, Texas: bit.ly/3XGWThB
Winter is coming... well, it’s been here for a while.
With the great outdoors looking Stark, it’s a good idea to practice winter safety. Check out these patents for a removable cleat that can turn ordinary footwear into a snowshoe better suited for walking on ice and slush, and a hand-held windshield deicer to take care of that morning freeze. Whether on foot or in a car, inventions will get you where you need to go.
What should be the strategic priorities for the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office for the next five years? Director Kathi Vidal gave a preview of our 2022-2026 proposed plan on Federal News Network: http://bit.ly/3R5CErO
“In addition to performing the roles we normally perform, when it comes to patents & trademarks, we really need to get out there into more communities, & bring more Americans into the .”
Let us know what you think about the Strategic Plan at: https://bit.ly/3vK0zmQ
Do you use a brand name, slogan, or logo to distinguish yourself or your business for your customers? Did you invent or design something like a machine or tool? You might have intellectual property! Find out what type, and how to protect it, with our new IP Identifier tool: bit.ly/3It3LLh
Women entrepreneurs: what does your network look like?
“It could be your local economic development agency, it could be working with universities, community colleges, leveraging your social network, but also making sure you’re leveraging the opportunities that exist within the government,” says Alejandra Castillo, Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Economic Development Administration.
Learn more about opportunities for women entrepreneurs to find grants to local communities, business incubators, and leverage government resources with our online resource hub: bit.ly/USPTO-WE
Mark your calendars for three opportunities to be inspired by Black entrepreneurs, small business owners, and inventors! Attend the USPTO’s 2023 Black Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program events on February 10, 14, and 24 to learn how you can access capital, protect your intellectual property (IP), find mentors, and network with fellow innovators and entrepreneurs. Register today: bit.ly/3vBHCmk
Rory Cooper has always enjoyed tinkering and competition. As a kid growing up in Southern California, he ran track and cross country, and he often worked in his parents’ garage, making improvements to skateboards and bicycles. He brought these skills to his work in the U.S. Army, but then an accident changed his life forever and set him on a path to become an inventor, engineer, bronze medalist, and now, National Inventors Hall of Fame inductee.
Listen to or read our interview with Cooper, who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2023: bit.ly/31nPXIH
The Frankfurt sisters founded Page Boy, the country’s first high-end maternity-wear firm, in their hometown of Dallas in 1937. Their invention of an adjustable skirt for pregnant women made their company unique, but the three sisters’ individual strengths made the fashion enterprise a national success. Elsie was the charismatic face of the company, Edna oversaw details of production and management, and Louise served as the firm’s principal designer.
Read more about how they used these skills, as well as a patent and three trademarks, to change the field of maternity-wear forever in our story: bit.ly/3X2ofPa
Whether you need help with your patent or trademark application, are interested in branching out with your business internationally, or want to hear directly from successful inventors and entrepreneurs, the USPTO has free services for innovators at every step in their journey. Check out our resources, which you can filter by your area of interest: bit.ly/3njeBYV
: The National Inventors Hall of Fame (NIHF) announced their 50th class of inductees earlier this month! Follow NIHF for more information on each of these 16 incredible inventors leading up to the induction ceremony in October. From the inventors of the mRNA technology in COVID vaccines to the reCAPTCHA web security program and more, meet the Class of 2023: bit.ly/2G6G9vR
It was a packed day yesterday at the USPTO offices in Alexandria. We hosted our colleagues from U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a joint listening session with stakeholders on how to increase access & affordability to life-saving medicines.
“Accessibility to medicine for all Americans is a top priority of the Biden-Harris administration,” said USPTO Director Kathi Vidal. “It is a moral and national imperative. The United States is a global leader in new drug development due to its strong patent system. Though patents play a critical role in incentivizing and protecting the investment essential for bringing life-saving and life-altering drugs to market, we must make sure our system as a whole does not unnecessarily delay getting generic, biosimilar, and more affordable versions of those drugs into the hands of Americans who need them.”
We want to thank those who attended & contributed to this conversation, from patients, public interest & business advocates, researchers, brand & generic pharmaceutical & brand biotech & biosimilar companies. Your expertise & diverse perspectives ensure that we increase equity as well as efficiency.
To learn more about the USPTO + FDA collaboration, & about additional opportunities to engage, visit our website: bit.ly/3UuxB5D
The USPTO has extended the deadline to receive comments on our draft 2022-2026 Strategic Plan until February 17. We welcome comments on all aspects of the draft plan. Learn more on our Strategic Plan webpage: bit.ly/3GPygsq
The USPTO is seeking public comments on the agency’s draft 2022-2026 Strategic Plan by January 31, 2023. Your comments will help us drive innovation, entrepreneurship, and creativity for the benefit of all Americans and people around the world.
“If we can expand the number of inventors by four-fold, we can grow our economy and GDP by $1 trillion,” remarked USPTO Director Kathi Vidal. “Guided by our new plan, we will work across government and with stakeholders to drive innovation, entrepreneurship, and creativity, create jobs, and enhance global competitiveness and national security.”
Read our press release to learn about the five goals we aim to achieve, and how you can submit a comment: bit.ly/3vK0zmQ
At next month’s three-part Black Innovation & Entrepreneurship series, special guests and expert panelists will discuss resources and services that can help you access capital, protect your intellectual property (IP), find mentors, and network with fellow innovators and entrepreneurs. Register now for any or all of the sessions, which are being held both online and at Morgan State University: bit.ly/3vBHCmk
IP = Intellectual Property
NFTs = Non-fungible tokens
If you already knew that, you might be in our series of events on the intersection between IP law and NFTs, co-hosted by the U.S. Copyright Office. Sign up to attend any or all of the sessions covering topics related to NFTs and trademarks, patents, and copyrights. Learn more on our website: bit.ly/3Esq6ox
Thank you to all who joined us for today’s event on identifying and protecting intellectual property (IP)! Some of our favorite advice from our panel of experts, which included the Honorable Kate O’Malley, Chrissybil Boulin, and Vaishali Udupa? Take advantage of USPTO and intellectual property programs at law schools to protect your invention or brand as early as possible, learn how to delegate tasks in order to concentrate on the most important work, and use the USPTO’s new IP Identifier tool to find out what type of IP you have and how to protect it: bit.ly/3It3LLh
Speaking directly to women entrepreneurs, USPTO Director Kathi Vidal emphasized, “We need to do more to translate your ideas, inventions, and brands into jobs and economic prosperity… We're here to support you with an all of government approach and with collaborations with the private sector to bring people on this stage who can address the questions you have and can see you on your journey.”
Ready to take the next step in protecting your IP? Check out our Women’s Entrepreneurship online hub for resources to help you identify what type of IP you have, getting started with your application, and much more: bit.ly/USPTO-WE
❗ Just announced at the USPTO’s event in Naples, Florida: We have launched a new Intellectual Property (IP) Identifier tool which enables users to identify whether they have IP and the IP protections they need to support and advance their business, invention, or brand.
“We encourage everyone who is considering starting a business or trying to grow one to utilize this tool,” says USPTO Director Kathi Vidal. “It’s another example of our work to bring more people into the innovation ecosystem to increase American competitiveness, grow the economy, and solve world problems.”
Learn more in our press release: bit.ly/3Xp05Ps
Women entrepreneurs: Don’t forget to tune in for our event, today at noon ET! Learn how identifying and protecting your intellectual property (IP) and make your business even more successful from a panel of IP experts moderated by USPTO Director Kathi Vidal. Our speakers include:
💡 Chrissybil Boulin, who as the founder of Jump Start Tutoring Center works to make tutoring more accessible with artificial intelligence and machine learning.
💡 The Honorable Kate O'Malley (Ret.), who has decades of experience as in intellectual property law and policy through her career as a judge on U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
💡 Vaishali Udupa, an intellectual property attorney, engineer, and our newly appointed Commissioner for Patents!
Tune in virtually: bit.ly/3hDgO1P
Just like patents, patent examiners come from a variety of disciplines. If you know someone seeking a career in one of these 10 fields, tell them America’s Innovation Agency is hiring!
🎨 Art/Design
🌿 Biology
🥼 Chemistry
💻 Computer Science
🍎 Physics
💉 Biomedical Engineering
🧪 Chemical Engineering
💻 Computer Engineering*
⚡ Electrical Engineering*
⚙ Mechanical Engineering
Patent examiners may work fully remote from their location of choice nationwide. Apply on USAJOBS: https://bit.ly/3UdSQZk
*Recruitment bonuses may be available.
Intellectual property attorney and engineer Vaishali Udupa was officially sworn in today as the new USPTO Commissioner for Patents. Ms. Udupa will lead the agency’s 10,000 Patents employees, including more than 9,000 patent examiners responsible for fostering the country’s innovation system by providing patent protections to inventors.
“I am taking this role because I am deeply committed to promoting inclusive innovation and driving the United States of America’s economic prosperity and competitiveness,” said Commissioner Udupa during her swearing in ceremony. “We have a lot of work to do, including enhancing our system of reliable and robust patents and supporting our patents workforce, to meeting the challenges of 21st century innovation. I can’t wait to hit the ground running.”
Read our press release to learn more: bit.ly/3BEFspi
Kid inventor Jennifer Wen loved exploring her mother's sewing box to see if she could invent new uses for the items she found there. One day she taped an arrow to a hoop and loop fastener, thinking it would make a cool bookmark because she could mark the page and the last word she read in the book.
Jennifer shared her bookmark idea with her brother, Brian, and the siblings worked to improve the design. Brian noticed the bookmark's arrow was fragile and suggested replacing it with a clear window so readers could mark the page and see the final word they read. Jennifer and Brian were granted U.S. Patent no. 10,857,827 in December 2020.
On , check out our resources for kids, students, and educators: bit.ly/3LENa6Y
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From building oral advocacy skills to ensuring the person who best knows the details of the case is the one to argue it, the USPTO’s Legal Experience and Advancement Program (LEAP) has given junior lawyers and practitioners the opportunity to participate in Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) proceedings for the past two years. “In each situation, the LEAP attorney excelled,” says Administrative Patent Judge Erica Franklin. “They meet this opportunity with clear preparation and confidence. And I hope, in part, that confidence is due to the fact that they know that we want them there.” What can make the LEAP program more successful? Having more people participate. Learn more about how you can help us spread the word: bit.ly/32fL1fd
The #USPTO is proudly showcasing America’s Innovation Agency during the first day of the Society of Women Engineers - SWE's #WE22 conference in Houston, TX! The event runs through Saturday. Connect with us at [email protected]. #InclusiveInnovation #Engineering
Just a few of the statistics from our new USPTO report, “Where are U.S. women patentees? Assessing three decades of growth:” 💡 The largest growth rate in women inventor-patentees in any field was in electricity, rising 7,000%. 🎓 Counties that doubled the number of women college graduates were 61% more likely to see the first woman named on a patent. 👩⚕️ Counties with women patent holders have 630% more workers and 22% higher incomes than counties with no women named on patents. The bottom line? More women, in more areas of the country, are getting patents for their inventions than ever before. Read the full report: bit.ly/3TmIHJa #StatisticsDay #InclusiveInnovation
Counterfeit products are not only illegal, they can cause real harm. Learn more about how the #GoforReal campaign, a partnership between the National Crime Prevention Council and the USPTO, is teaching young people how to avoid these dangerous fakes, and join us on our mission to help curb the scourge of counterfeits: bit.ly/3RV3RNK
In addition to infringing on people’s intellectual property rights, counterfeit products are dangerous. They often contain harmful chemicals or faulty parts, and money from counterfeits are used to fund criminal enterprises. The USPTO works with our global partners to stop the flow of these products. Recently, IP attaché Matt Kohner participated in a destruction ceremony for infringing goods in Thailand, along with the Thai deputy minister of commerce, the director general of the Thai intellectual property office and other senior officials. Approximately $5 million in IP infringing goods were destroyed. Learn more about the IP attachés’ work to combat counterfeiting and prevent the flow of harmful products across the globe: bit.ly/3q1JrWb
Free legal assistance through the USPTO’s Patent Pro Bono program helped inventor Abenezer Ayana take the next step in building his company, which helps blind individuals learn and use braille. When filing his patent application, Ayana cites the value of having “someone who engaged with you personally and sees the impact of what you’re doing.” Learn more about our Patent Pro Bono Program for independent inventors and small businesses: bit.ly/3qaALeo
#InventionCon2022 is starting now! Over the next three days, attendees to this free, virtual program will hear from over 80 speakers, who will share first-hand tips and proven strategies for success. “For more than a quarter of a century, this conference has been a vital resource for innovators, inventors, and entrepreneurs just like you,” Director Vidal said in her welcoming message to attendees. “Wherever you are on your innovation journey, we have the resources to help you utilize intellectual property to bring your ideas to impact.” To view the agenda and tune in live, visit our website: bit.ly/3bJCNB3
Want to build your own marble arcade? How about go on an out-of-this-world “Spacecation,” or create your own ecosystem for aquatic life? Learn more about Camp Invention, a special summer program for budding innovators in grades K-6: bit.ly/2GhOFqo
“I encourage the entrepreneurs, I encourage the small business owners, and I encourage inventors to not miss Invention-Con. That’s where I learned how to bring my idea to market.” At even the most challenging periods in her life, Ruth Young-Loaeza was drawing sketches and creating prototypes with the hopes of making her creative ideas a reality. Watch the video to learn how attending the USPTO’s Invention-Con helped Young-Loaeza on her path to success, and register for our upcoming virtual #InventionCon2022: bit.ly/3nIb865
Our National Summer Teacher Institute (NSTI) started today! Throughout the week, 50 educators from around the nation will meet on a virtual invention island campus to learn how to foster innovation, creativity, and invention in their classrooms. “The success of our country and our world hinges on the dreams, aspirations, and persistence of our youth,” said Director Vidal in her opening remarks to this year’s class of educators. “By integrating intellectual property concepts into your curricula, you are challenging your students to become problem solvers, innovators, risk takers, change makers, and entrepreneurs.” Today, the educators explored campus, heard student inventors describe their invention process, and began work on their invention challenges. Learn more about NSTI: bit.ly/2owDZOz
On July 31, 2022, we will retire the Public Patent Application Information Retrieval tool, also known as "Public PAIR," and begin directing customers to Patent Center. To learn more, watch this video and check out our website: www.uspto.gov/patentcenter
#OTD in 1969, the crew of #Apollo11 landed on the moon, marking the first time humans set foot on the lunar surface. Check out some of the patents from the Saturn V rocket that made this historic feat of innovation possible.
Partridge? ✔️ Pear tree? ✔️ Prior art? ✔️ We hope you enjoy our 12 Days of Patents! ♫
Our favorite holiday #ProTip? Inventor cards are colorful, educational, and inspiring – and double as ornaments in a pinch. Happy holidays from the #USPTO! View the full set of cards: bit.ly/3F0SSfd
After BitTorrent-based piracy impacted software firms in 2001, there was a rapid rise in R&D spending and IP filings in response to these crimes. Learn more in our new working paper on software piracy and #IP: bit.ly/30UYY1v
#OTD in 1969, NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration launched the #Apollo11 mission from the Kennedy Space Center. Check out some of the patents from the Saturn V rocket that put us on the moon, and learn more about this historic feat of innovation: https://go.nasa.gov/3hOtKxJ
-.-. .... . -.-. -.- / --- ..- - / --- ..- .-. / . ...- . -. - That’s Morse code for “check out our event!” Join the #USPTOEastern Regional Office tomorrow to learn more about the telecommunications revolution: https://bit.ly/3ifPqVn
Join the USPTO and its partner organizations in a special 90-minute program to celebrate #World Intellectual PropeDay 2021. This annual international event is an opportunity to learn about the role that intellectual property (IP) rights play in encouraging innovation and creativity. Learn more and view the agenda: https://www.uspto.gov/about-us/events/world-intellectual-property-day-2021 The theme of this year’s celebration is “Intellectual property and small businesses: Taking big ideas to market.” The program will include two live panels: the first will feature representatives of small businesses who will share their IP stories; the second will focus on the resources available to assist small businesses with their IP needs. U.S Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo will provide closing remarks.
Shawn Springs, CEO and founder of Windpact, encourages other #SmallBusiness owners to consider #IntellectualProperty protection at an early stage in their company’s development. On #WorldIPDay, learn more about his #innovation story: https://bit.ly/3xq2j4o
For Shawn Springs, the founder and CEO of Windpact, #IntellectualProperty protection was vital to his business’ success. As we approach #WorldIPDay, learn about how the #USPTO and our partner organizations are working to help businesses like his: https://bit.ly/32tltbv
Shawn Springs played professional football in the NFL for over a decade before founding Windpact, a technology and applied science company focused on the analysis, design, and implementation of impact protection solutions. Their main product is “Crash Cloud,” a material that can be built into helmets or driver’s seats with the purpose of absorbing and dispersing impact energy. Watch the video to learn about the role of intellectual property protection in his innovation journey. #WorldIPDay
The Innovation Chat will open with a panel discussion on the topic of creating innovators, moderated by Wayne Stacy, Director of the USPTO’s Silicon Valley Office. Our panel will include Dr. Wendy Wintersteen, President of Iowa State University; Dr. Javier Diez, Ph.D, inventor, CEO of SubUAS, LLC, and professor at Rutgers University; and Tiki Dare, Vice President of Trademark & Copyright at Oracle Corp. NCEAI is comprised of representatives from industry, academia, and government, and was established to help guide the USPTO in developing a comprehensive national strategy to build a more diverse and inclusive innovation ecosystem. The Innovation Chat webinar series aims to further the discussion on how to increase opportunities for all Americans to participate in innovation. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3fbKlf4
The final installment of the 2021 Women’s Entrepreneurship Symposium (WES), with special guest U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, offers attendees an opportunity to hear from a trailblazing modern leader and learn from women entrepreneurs about launching a business, overcoming challenges, and the vital role of intellectual property (IP) protection. Learn more about this free program and view the agenda: https://bit.ly/3cg0VbW
The fourth installment of the 2021 Women’s Entrepreneurship Symposium (WES) offers attendees a chance to learn about small business loans, crowdfunding, and other investment funding sources for aspiring entrepreneurs. Learn more about this free program and view the agenda: http://bit.ly/3bUpL0U
The third installment of the 2021 Women’s Entrepreneurship Symposium (WES) offers attendees a chance to learn about programs, resources, and information that can help you protect your creative work. Learn more about this free program and view the agenda: http://bit.ly/3v5Io9E
The second installment of the 2021 Women’s Entrepreneurship Symposium (WES) offers attendees a chance to learn about opportunities for girls and women in computer science, invention, and STEM. Learn more about this free program and view the agenda: https://bit.ly/3rj5oQg
The annual Women’s Entrepreneurship Symposium (WES) offers attendees a chance to learn about innovation and business from public and private sector experts. Learn more about this free program and view the agenda: http://bit.ly/2YOupGq
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