Patent & Trademark Connections: One Library’s Partnership with the USPTO in Providing Intellectual Property Resources & Services to the Public by Amy Jansen Business & Web Experience Librarian Sacred Heart University Fairfield, CT A Presentation for the College & University Business Libraries (CUBL) Section Breakfast June 2013

What is a Patent & Trademark Resource Center? The Patent & Trademark Resource Center (PTRC) at Sacred Heart University is a partnership with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). PTRCs are a nationwide network of public, state and academic libraries that are designated to disseminate patent and trademark information and to support the diverse intellectual property needs of the public.

What does a PTRC do? The USPTO strongly advises the public to perform “a search of the prior art before the filing of an application” for a patent. - PTRC libraries assist the public in getting started with their patent (and trademark) searches. Although the USPTO’s examiners will perform a patent search with each application, a thorough search on the applicant’s end will save him or her time, money, and energy. Patent attorneys and agents handle many companies’ & individuals’ patents, but costs can be great and some independent inventors prefer to do their own research.

A Preliminary Patent Search This search helps users: Conduct a Preliminary Prior Art Search (to determine the originality of their invention); Research a class or classes of inventions; and Better understand patent documents. Can you guess what well known product this patent is for?

A Preliminary Trademark Search This search helps users: Determine if there are similar trademarks; See how marks are used by businesses with related goods and services; and See how businesses with related goods and services have specified those goods and services.

Other PTRC Services Connect inventors to Inventors Assistance Center (IAC), a local IP law clinic, and Registered Patent Agents and Attorneys in our area. Perform outreach to local public libraries – many of our visitors are referred from public libraries throughout Connecticut. Collaborate with local business groups (SCORE). Assist students and faculty with their intellectual property questions and research needs.

How are PTRC Librarians trained? Participate in one-week annual training at the USPTO headquarters in Alexandria, VA for PTRC librarians. updates, presentations, and news from USPTO administrators and staff hands on patent and trademark training networking with PTRC colleagues across the country; share knowledge and best practices Motivated and guided by regular questions and research needs of inventors and other PTRC visitors.

SHU Library & PTRC Staff Library employs 10 full-time librarians. PTRC program coordinated by 2 full-time librarians, who field most PTRC inquiries. Library received – in 2012 – 96 PTRC research inquiries, including 32 in-person consultations, 44 phone consultations, and 20 exchanges.

Community Outreach Collaborate and create programs with local public libraries. Hold patent & trademark searching presentations at state library consortium meeting. Dialogue with local inventor & business groups, including SCORE, a non-profit association dedicated to helping small businesses grow (supported by SBA).

Academic Outreach Outreach at SHU has taken place primarily through word of mouth and individual conversations with faculty. Intellectual property becoming increasingly important to many business, political science, and law courses. Our reference desk fields increasing student inquiries about competitive intelligence, corporate research & development, and the value of patents. Library staff also receive research inquiries about trademarks from Fashion Marketing & Merchandising students at SHU’s Welch College of Business. SHU offers variety of courses related to intellectual property policy and law offered by SHU’s Political Science & other College of Arts & Sciences.

Patents, Trademarks & Competitive Intelligence Patents & trademarks are both company assets and investments. There is a clear connection between patent citations, stock valuations & technical importance of patents. O’Haver, R. Monetize Your Intellectual Property. Mercer Management Journal, Vol.16, From Bloomberg Businessweek, March 24, 2010, ml

Final Comments Patents and trademarks are important aspects of business research for a variety of parties – business executives & administrators, investors, inventors, legal services providers, academic researchers, etc. PTRC libraries, in cooperation with the USPTO, play a crucial role in making these pieces of business knowledge – patent and trademark information – available to the general public.