USPTO Independent Inventor Resources
- Inventor & Entrepreneur Resources (U.S. Patent & Trademark Office)"The USPTO assists independent inventors, small business concerns and university affiliated inventors through its Office of Innovation Development. The office also works closely with other officials and agencies throughout the government in support of the administration’s efforts to promote small business, entrepreneurship, and job creation. The Office of Innovation Development designs and implements outreach programs intended to reach a wide range of groups, including independent inventors, women, small business concerns, minorities, and other underserved communities"
Inventors Councils
- Inventors Council of Central Florida (ICCF)
Orlando/Longwood, FL
The Inventors Council of Central Florida (ICCF) meets the first Saturday of each month. Their meetings are open to anyone interested in patents and inventing, and offers suggestions and guidance on ideas you might have. - United Inventors Association of America
Nonprofit dedicated to providing educational resources and opportunities to the independent inventing community. More Florida organizations listed under "Inventor Clubs". - Inventors Society of South FloridaBoca Raton, FL
Meets the second Saturday of every month unless interrupted by a holiday from 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm.
Registration required due to occupancy limit; If you are not registered and all tickets are taken, you will be turned away at the door.
Call for more information: (561) 676-5677 or (954) 281-6564.
Local makerspaces--NOTE: call ahead, hours/open houses may vary
Pro Bono Services
If you qualify for free legal assistance with your patent application (income 300% or less of Federal Poverty Guidelines), there is an office in Florida that provides free Pro Bono Assistance. There is a USPTO video series available that explains the program fully.
- Pro Bono Patent Services in FloridaPatent Pro Bono FL is the statewide program of the Arts & Business Council of Miami and Dade Legal Aid to provide under-resourced inventors with pro bono patent attorneys.
- Pro Bono Patent Services in generalSee also the 7-part Pro Bono Program video series available at https://youtu.be/E6XHbfmjDN4
Protecting your IP
- National Inventor Fraud CenterThe National Inventor Fraud Center was created to assist consumers and alert them to ways they can protect themselves from companies who are fraudulent in their operations.
- Scam PreventionThe USPTO's public forum for the publication of complaints concerning invention promoters/promotion firms.
- STOPfakes.govAdministered by the U.S. Department of Commerce, this is a one-stop shop for government tools and resources on intellectual property rights, particularly assisting and educating small- to medium-sized enterprises.
UCF Small Business Development Center
- Advisory Board Council (Florida SBDC at UCF)"The Advisory Board Council is a next-level, business support service, assisting established Central Florida businesses by matching them with experienced business professionals with a diverse range of skills who work together on a “custom-fit” advisory board."
- Counseling - Certified Business Analysts will help you develop:
- Business Plans
- Marketing Plans
- Feasibility Studies
- Market Research
- Loan Proposals
- Accounting Systems
- Personnel Plans
- Employee Manuals
- Strategic Plans
- Areas of Assistance
- Accounting: asset management, record keeping systems and procedures
- Finance: ratio analysis, breakeven analysis, financial projections and business valuation
- Marketing: pricing, advertising & promotion, marketing planning, market research and exporting
- Operations: production & inventory control, project management, risk management and energy conservation
- New Venture Planning: start-up information, feasibility analysis, business planning and general business consulting
- Technical Assistance: preliminary patent searches, patent, copyright & trademark, and technology transfer & SBIR/STTR
- Seminars
- Basic Tools Seminar Series
- Specialty Tools Seminar Series
- Government Contracting Seminar Series
- Strategic Tools Seminar Series
BitLaw
- BitLawA comprehensive Internet resource on technology and intellectual property law. In this site, you will find complete copies of the United States Patent, Copyright, and Trademark statutes, as well as the relevant regulations from the Code of Federal Regulations. BitLaw also includes converted versions of the TMEP and MPEP (the office manuals created by the United States Trademark and Patent Offices, respectively). Each of these documents include links to the relevant statutory and regulatory sections. Finally, BitLaw contains a great deal of custom written descriptions of how these areas of the law affect the computer and technology industries.
Patent Drawings and Drafting
- Solid EdgeSoftware from Siemens Digital Industries Software. Free versions available for students, teachers, community and some startups.
- TinkerCADGreat for BEGINNERS. App for 3D design, electronics, and coding
- FreecadAimed directly for mechanical engineering and product design uses
- Sketchup3D modelling software
Roster of Patent Attorneys and Agents
The USPTO maintains a roster of patent agents and attorneys who are authorized to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office. You may use their database (search or download) to obtain the most current information on practitioners in your city, county or zip code.
- Patent Practitioner Home PageThe USPTO's searchable roster of registered patent agents and attorneys. Also has practitioner disciplinary history and information on becoming a practitioner.
Finding Patent and Trademark practitioners
We recommend that an attorney be consulted when an interpretation of the law is needed. See Patent and trademark practitioners on the USPTO website for more information, including why trademark applicants in particular are encouraged to hire an attorney. See also the new trademark rule requiring foreign-domiciled applicants and registrants to have a U.S.-licensed attorney.
- Find a LawyerThe Florida Bar's lawyer database. Click "More options" and select Intellectual Property as practice area and board certification.
- Law School Clinic Certification ProgramLaw students enrolled in participating clinics are authorized to practice intellectual property law before the USPTO under the strict guidance of a law school faculty clinic supervisor.
- Pro Bono Patent Services in FloridaPatent Pro Bono FL is the statewide program of the Arts & Business Council of Miami and Dade Legal Aid to provide under-resourced inventors with pro bono patent attorneys.
Inventor's Assistance Center
The Inventors Assistance Center (IAC) answers questions concerning patent examining policy and procedure by former Supervisory Patent Examiners and experienced Primary Examiners.
How to Contact the IAC
- Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM – 8:00 PM (ET), except federal holidays
- Toll-free: 800-PTO-9199 (800-786-9199)
- Local: 571-272-1000
- TDD/TTY customers can dial 800-877-8339 for customer assistance