LibGuides: Patents: 3. Legal Assistance

Finding a Patent Practitioner & Free Legal Assistance

Locate a Patent Practitioner by Geographic Region

Search for registered patent practitioners/representatives (attorneys and agents) through the USPTO at https://oedci.uspto.gov/OEDCI/practitionerSearchEntry

Patent Attorneys are in good standing of the bar and are registered to practice before the USPTO and represent the applicant.
Patent Agents are registered to practice before the USPTO and represent the applicant but are not attorneys.

Locate a Patent Practitioner by Field of Technology

While a patent practitioner can be found be geographic location, it can be helpful to work with someone knowledgeable about the technology involved in your invention. When conducting a patent search, look at the attorney of record for patents that are in a similar field of technology that would not have a conflict of interest.

Free Legal Assistance

Pro Bono Assistance
The Pro Bono Program matches low-income inventors with patent attorneys skilled in a relevant area of technology. Inventors must meet income guidelines and show knowledge of the patent system by either submitting a provisional patent application themselves or by taking a short web-based tutorial and assessment. The Pro Bono Program serving Kansas is called Gateway Venture Mentoring Services and they are located in Missouri.
Law School Clinic Program
The Law School Clinic Program matches low-income inventors with law school students who are studying intellectual property and are working under a patent attorney. There are many participating law school clinics across the U.S., but currently, none are located in Kansas. However, several law schools do serve all of the U.S. or states in the midwest region. Requirements may vary by law school. Some law schools offer reduced-fee legal services if someone does not meet the income qualifications to receive free assistance.
Pro Se Assistance
If an inventor chooses to file a patent application by themselves without legal representation, the Pro Se Assistance Center can answer questions about the patent application process. Note that pro se applicants have a lower percentage rate of having their patent granted, probably due to a lack of familiarity with the patent system.

Other Resources

BitLaw: Patents
Review patent law in the U.S. with this helpful index of 35 U.S. Code (U.S.C.).
Inventor's Assistance Center
Staff answer general questions about examining policies and procedures. The center is staffed by retired examiners.
Legal Updates from NOLO
NOLO Press provides legal updates pertaining to patents, trademarks, and copyright that may provide additional information that has been released since the publication of their latest books. Updates as recent at 2021.
Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP)
This manual should help to answer questions about the rules that patent examiners, applicants, attorneys, and agents must follow. It also may give some insight into the intentions and interpretations of patent examiners. June 2020
MPEP (Consolidated)
This consolidated version of the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure is useful for the non-lawyer for understanding the full manual. For patents, look around page L-24. 2023 edition
USPTO Patent Guidance, Tools, and Manuals
Points one to a variety of sources and manuals.
USPTO Scam Prevention Guide
Be careful about working with invention promotion firms. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Do some research to see if they are a reputable company.

Studying for the Patent Bar?

PIUG education and training webinars and live workshops: https://www.piug.org/education
Training on Patent Searching from major database providers (Derwent, STN, Acclaim IP)
Open Access IP tools (e.g., Google Patents, Espacenet, WIPO, Lens.org)
Follow IP blogs, newsfeeds, such as IP Watchdog, and case reports, journals, such as ABA (Intellectual Property Section) – Landslide magazine, books
Create a Google news alert on a patent-related topic (https://www.google.com/alerts)