Patents, Trademarks & Copyright

The Entrepreneurship Research Series Workshops help inventors and entrepreneurs learn how to protect their intellectual property and support their business through research.

For more information, please go to the Entrepreneurship Research Series Guide. 

SAVE THE DATE!

Our Rocky Mountain Regional and USPTO have some great virtual workshop series via WebEx over the next few months that are FREE and open to the public. They also have many sessions offered in English and Spanish for our bilingual patrons, if wanting Spanish version click on Spanish title instead of english title of session. If interested please visit: Rocky Mountain Region Events. For more information, contact Jessica Pierpoint or Nicholas Wyant.

 July and August USPTO Virtual Events 

July 19th: Blockchain & IP Series: Truth over Trust

• Join to see how utilization of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), geofencing, and biometrics are being investigated to create a future that relies on truth over trust.

August 10-12: Invention-Con 2022-The Place for Inventors, Makers, and Entrepreneurs

• Join us as successful inventors, accomplished entrepreneurs, and expert USPTO staff demonstrate how intellectual property protection is key to your success, share invaluable resources for innovators, offer tips on business strategy, and give insights into working with the USPTO to patent your invention or register your trademark. Register above for this FREE online conference!

August 16th: Blockchain and IP Series: Cross Section of Blockchain, Patents, and Open Sources

• Our speaker will identify the complexities and misunderstandings of these three topics and address how they may work together. 

August 30th: Intellectual Property 101 (Intro to IP Series) *also offered in Spanish

USPTO Virtual Series

Intellectual Property Basics and Helpful Resources (monthly)

August 4th, September 1st, October 6th, November 3rd, December 1st

The Path to a Patent series (an 8-part series that is weekly on Thursdays)

Trademark Basics Boot Camp (an 8-part series that is weekly on Tuesdays)

• July 5th: Fundamentals
• July 12th: Registration Process Overview
• July19th: Searching
• July 26th: Application Requirements
• August 2nd: Application Filing walk-through
• August 9th: Responding to Office Action
• August 16: Keeping Registration Alive
• August 23rd: Q&A Panel

For accessibility requests, or for more information, please call 303-297-4600, email rockymountain@uspto.gov or visit us online at Rocky Mountain Regional USPTO.

Other local virtual and in-person events involving IP that could be of interest: 

Kansas Small Business Development Center (KSBDC)

Create Campaign, Inc

1 Million Cups

Welcome to the research guide for patents, trademarks & copyright.

Wichita State University Libraries is one of 84 U.S. Patent and Trademark Research Centers (PTRCs) in the country and the only PTRC in Kansas. Since receiving this designation in 1991, we have received copies of U.S. patents and a variety of patent and trademark searching tools in both print and electronic formats, as well as extensive training in providing patent and trademark research assistance. The Library is open to the public, and we assist with preliminary patent and trademark research by appointment at no charge.

PTRC library staff are trained to use search tools to access patent and trademark information and offer assistance with various patent, trademark, and copyright consultation questions. Please note that we cannot perform patent or trademark searches for individuals and cannot give legal advice. For legal advice, please contact a registered patent attorney or agent. More specialized questions should be directed to the USPTO. Please contact Jessica Pierpoint or Nicholas Wyant for more information or to schedule an appointment. 

What we offer:

• Books on a variety of business and intellectual property topics
• Databases for industry and consumer research
• Entrepreneurship Research Series workshops taught by: 
  • Jessica Pierpoint, Library Patent and Trademark Specialist
  • Nicolas Wyant, Engineer, Patent, and Trademark Librarian
  • Meghann Kuhlmann, Business Librarian
• Virtual presentations given by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and Rocky Mountain Regional Office
• One-on-one consultations to help you with business, patent, or trademark research
• Online research guides for entrepreneurs, business research, and intellectual property

Location and Hours:

PTRC librarians are typically available from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday.

Visitor Parking and Parking Map 

Library Hours

Students' IP Rights at WSU

Click the image above to learn more about PTRCs.