Penn State Law Intellectual Property Clinic launches Pennsylvania Patent Pro Bono Program with USPTO

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State Law in University Park Intellectual Property Law Clinic (IPC) today announced a collaboration with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) establishing a new Patent Pro Bono Program for Pennsylvania. The Penn State Law IPC will serve as a clearinghouse for the program to connect volunteer patent practitioners with eligible inventors seeking legal assistance to help prepare, file, and prosecute patent applications. Volunteer practitioners will provide their legal services free of charge to qualified inventors under the program. 

On December 1, 2022, the Penn State Law IPC, in coordination with the Pennsylvania Bar Association Intellectual Property Law Section, began soliciting volunteer registered patent practitioners with experience in prosecuting patent applications. The volunteer application form is available on the IPC website. Registered patent practitioners are encouraged to sign up to volunteer to provide much-needed assistance to the under-resourced members of the inventing community.

The Penn State Law IPC will begin accepting applications from independent inventors seeking patent prosecution assistance beginning January 5, 2023. The eligibility criteria for participation for Pennsylvania independent inventors and small businesses can be found here. 

More information about the program is available on the Penn State IPC website. Members of the public are welcome to send any comments or suggestions regarding the Penn State IPC’s Patent Pro Bono Program to IPClinic@pennstatelaw.psu.edu.

The Penn State Law IPC provides Penn State Law students with an opportunity to gain practice-ready skills in intellectual property law. Under the clinic director, students provide legal services to the clinic’s clients in much the same manner as practicing IP lawyers, engaging in client intake and interview, patent and other intellectual property searching and evaluation, client communication, docketing, and filing applications in the USPTO.