Using Legal Services

Search for registered patent attorneys and agents online at: https://oedci.uspto.gov/OEDCI/  A patent attorney is an individual who is a member in good standing of the bar of any United States court or the highest court of any State and who is registered to practice before the USPTO and represent the applicant.  A patent agent is an individual who is not an attorney but who is registered to practice before the USPTO and represent the applicant.  Registered patent attorneys and agents are collectively referred to as “patent practitioners” but may also be referred to as practitioners or representatives.

Upcoming Events

April 26, 2017

Please join members of the Elijah J. McCoy Midwest Regional U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as they participate in the FIRST Innovation Faire at the FIRST Championship in St. Louis, Missouri April 26th through April 28th. Join us as we have hands-on activities for entrepreneurs of all ages as well...

April 26, 2017

The USPTO joins with the Congressional Trademark Caucus, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA), the International Trademark Association (INTA), and the Global Intellectual Property Center of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to...

April 26, 2017

World Intellectual Property Day is an initiative of the World Intellectual Property Organization's outreach program to educate communities in different parts of the US regarding the importance of protecting intellectual property and the resources available for its protection. Register The program...

April 26, 2017

Join Dr. Christal Sheppard, Director of the Elijah J. McCoy Midwest Regional U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as she participates on a panel discussion for World IP Day at the Film Row Cinema - Columbia College Chicago. The panel discussion will highlight the innovation process and protecting your...

April 27, 2017

The Rocky Mountain USPTO will be participating in Dream Big Eads to inspire students to use STEAM to improve our world. Approximately 250 students from high schools across the Kiowa County area will meet at Eads High School to explore five different areas of technology: space, unmanned air systems...

April 27, 2017

FIRST Championship Please join members of the Elijah J. McCoy Midwest Regional U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as they participate in the FIRST Innovation Faire at the FIRST Championship in St. Louis, Missouri April 26th through April 28th. Join us as we have hands-on activities for entrepreneurs...

April 27, 2017

As part of its Patents Education Curriculum, the Silicon Valley USPTO will host a two-hour workshop on patent searching. Learn to search databases used by patent examiners on the USPTO Universal Public Workstations (UPWS) which are publicly available at the regional office. A supervisory patent...

April 28, 2017

FIRST Championship Please join members of the Elijah J. McCoy Midwest Regional U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as they participate in the FIRST Innovation Faire at the FIRST Championship in St. Louis, Missouri April 26th through April 28th. Join us as we have hands-on activities for entrepreneurs...

April 29, 2017

The Rocky Mountain Regional Office will be participating in the two-day event at STEAM Fest 2017. We will be hosting a resource table along with an educational, hands-on activity using products found around the home. Come participate in our activity, and ask us any questions you may have on the...

May 2, 2017

Come learn from leading experts on Intellectual Property (IP) about the protection and enforcement of your IP in China. At this seminar you will be introduced to Chinese principal laws on patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets; enforcing your IP rights in China; hear perspectives from...

News & Updates

March 8, 2017 Nominations Sought for National Medal of Technology and Innovation

WASHINGTON - The Department of Commerce's United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is seeking nominations for the 2017 National Medal of Technology and Innovation. The medal is presented each year by the President of the United States and is this country's highest award for technological…

January 9, 2017 USPTO Announces New Patent and Trademark Advisory Committee Members

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Commerce’s United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) today announced new Patent and Trademark Advisory Committee Members for the Patent Public Advisory Committee (PPAC) and the Trademark Public Advisory Committee (TPAC). The Public Advisory…

December 12, 2016 U.S. Joint Strategic Plan on Intellectual Property Enforcement Announced

U.S. Joint Strategic Plan on Intellectual Property Enforcement Announced Today, the Office of the U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator (IPEC) released the 2017-2019 U.S. Joint Strategic Plan on Intellectual Property Enforcement, which offers a blueprint for coordinating resources and…

Patent Quality Conference

Advancing Patent Quality Across the IP Community Keynote Speaker: Michelle K. Lee, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property & Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office

October 14, 2016 USPTO Seeks Further Public Input on Patent Subject Matter Eligibility

Washington - The U.S. Department of Commerce's United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) today announced that as part of its effort to solicit input from the public regarding the legal contours of patent subject matter eligibility, it will be holding two roundtables, one in November and…

September 30, 2016 USPTO Seeking Comments on Proposed Patent Fee Adjustments

Washington – The U.S. Department of Commerce’s United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) today issued a notice of proposed rulemaking(link is external) (NPRM) proposing to set or adjust certain patent fees, as authorized by the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA). The proposed fees…

September 29, 2016 USPTO Announces Patents for Humanity Winners

Washington – The U.S. Commerce Department’s United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) today announced the latest winners of the Patents for Humanity program. The Patents for Humanity program was launched by the USPTO in February 2012 as part of an Obama administration initiative…

September 27, 2016 USPTO Announces Cancer Moonshot Challenge Winners

Washington— The U.S. Commerce Department’s United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) today announced the winners of the USPTO Cancer Moonshot Challenge. The challenge was launched by the USPTO in August as part of the White House Cancer Moonshot Task Force, which aims to speed up…