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The Office of Independent Inventor Resources (OIIP) was established in March 1999 in order to meet the special needs of independent inventors. The OIIP establishes new mechanisms to better disseminate information about the patent and trademark process and to foster regular communication between the USPTO and independent inventors.
A section of the USPTO’s Web site is devoted to independent inventors (site is entitled “Independent Inventor Resources”) and offers educational material covering all aspects of the patent and trademark process. The Web site also endeavors to educate independent inventors about fraudulent invention development and marketing firms and the scams that may affect these inventors and offers tips and warning signs on avoiding these scams. The site also publishes complaints against these firms and any responses received from them. The site further provides links to other USPTO sites, as well as links to other federal agencies.
The OIIP also offers educational and outreach programs, either alone or in conjunction with local Patent and Trademark Depository Libraries, independent inventor organizations, and Small Business Development Centers. These programs cover all aspects of the patent and trademark filing and prosecution process and can be arranged for your group or organization by contacting OIIP at the number or address listed below.
Write:
Director-
United States Patent and Trademark Office
Office of Independent Inventor Resources
Box 24
Washington, D.C. 20231
Telephone: 703-306-5568
Fax: 703-306-5570
E-mail: independentinventor@uspto.gov
The General Information Services Division (GISD) provides the primary point of contact to the independent inventor community and the general public for general information about filing a disclosure document, a provisional patent application, or a regular, non-provisional patent application.
For additional information on the patent process, telephone the USPTO Information Line and Patent Assistance Center at:
Telephone 1-800- PTO-9199
Fax: 703-305-7786
TTY: 703-305-7785
