Skip to content
  • About Us
  • Our Services
    • Phone Interview
    • Initial Meeting
    • Invention Analysis
    • Plan of Action
    • Invention Design
    • 2D/3D Illustrations
    • Invention Engineering
    • Patent Protection
    • Market Research
    • Manufacturers Search
    • Invention Brochures
    • Licensing & Royalties
  • Submit Your Idea
  • Why Us
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
Menu
  • About Us
  • Our Services
    • Phone Interview
    • Initial Meeting
    • Invention Analysis
    • Plan of Action
    • Invention Design
    • 2D/3D Illustrations
    • Invention Engineering
    • Patent Protection
    • Market Research
    • Manufacturers Search
    • Invention Brochures
    • Licensing & Royalties
  • Submit Your Idea
  • Why Us
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

972-402-0000

Irving, Texas

  • About Us
  • Our Services
    • Phone Interview
    • Initial Meeting
    • Invention Analysis
    • Plan of Action
    • Invention Design
    • 2D/3D Illustrations
    • Invention Engineering
    • Patent Protection
    • Market Research
    • Manufacturers Search
    • Invention Brochures
    • Licensing & Royalties
  • Submit Your Idea
  • Why Us
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
Menu
  • About Us
  • Our Services
    • Phone Interview
    • Initial Meeting
    • Invention Analysis
    • Plan of Action
    • Invention Design
    • 2D/3D Illustrations
    • Invention Engineering
    • Patent Protection
    • Market Research
    • Manufacturers Search
    • Invention Brochures
    • Licensing & Royalties
  • Submit Your Idea
  • Why Us
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
Free Invention Analysis

USPTO Patent Pro Bono Program In PA

  • April 14, 2016
USPTO Patent Pro Bono Program In PA

In March, the USPTO launched the Pennsylvania Patent Pro Bono Program through the Philadelphia Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, a non-profit community based legal services provider for the arts and invention community.

The Patent Pro Bono Program provides free legal assistance to low income inventors. The Program is a product of the America Invents Act (AIA). Under this legislation the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office began working with intellectual property law associations across the country to assist qualifying independent inventors and small businesses. In February of 2014, President Obama issued an executive action calling for expansion of the pro bono programs into all 50 states. As a result of the President’s executive action, new pro bono programs have been springing up all over the country.

Generally, most programs require that an inventor have: (1) income below 300% of the Federal poverty level; (2) knowledge of the patent system; and (3) the ability to describe his or her invention so that someone could make and use the invention. The income threshold is based on how many people are in the inventor’s household. Right now, the Federal poverty level for a one person household is $11,670, so 300% would be $35,010. Because each regional program is operated independently, inventors are strongly encouraged to contact their program directly, review their program’s website, or check out the USPTO’s website to learn about the eligibility criteria. To learn more about USPTO, please visit their website.

This chart shows the percentage of U.S. patents issued to inventors and not assigned to any organization or government. The data comes from the USPTO, courtesy of Dennis Crouch, Law Professor at the University of Missouri School of Law[1] .The Patent Office’s data shows a dramatic drop in inventor-owned patents from 13% in 2001 to a little over 6% in 2014.

While, the numerical number of inventor-owned patents per year has actually remained relatively flat over the past decade, there has been significant growth in the number of patents granted to corporations. It is pretty clear that corporations are increasing benefitting from our patent system while independent inventors are not. Why is this happening?

It seems that large corporations continue to obtain patents for defensive purposes. They usually cross-license these patents when they sue each other, and patents represent a small fraction of their R&D budgets.

But, for individual inventors, patent-based businesses, research labs and universities, who rely on strong patents to succeed, the costs of obtaining and enforcing patents is enormous. If patents are rendered weak, or are made toothless, these entities will be less and less inclined to use the patent system.

We are definitely seeing an erosion of patent rights in this country from the growth in the filing of Inter Parties Review proceedings, to Supreme Court decisions like eBay[2] and Alice[3] .

Many feel, as I do, that the erosion in patent rights, more than anything else, is the root cause of the Patent Office’s data showing a lower relative representation of inventor held patents.

The Patent Pro Bono roll out may be a good first step in getting small inventors more interested in the patent process again. Local inventors, in Pennsylvania, who qualify can contact the Philadelphia Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (“PVLA”) in Philadelphia by calling 215-790-3822.  PVLA  will coordinate referral attorneys with inventor’s needs. Registered patent attorneys who wish to volunteer in a regional Patent Pro Bono program can apply directly with their regional program.

  • Patents, USPTO
Inventions
Tech

Latest Posts

New patent reveals Facebook is exploring a modular phone
New patent reveals Facebook is exploring a modular phone
Facebook is exploring new handheld gadget with interchangeable parts that could used like a smartphone or portable speaker, a new ...
Should the Patent and Trademark Office Be Allowed to Change Its Mind?
Should the Patent and Trademark Office Be Allowed to Change Its Mind?
A patent on one-click checkout? On a method for exercising a cat? On a lawn bag that looks like a ...
Provisional Patent Applications: To File or Not File
Provisional Patent Applications: To File or Not File
Since 1995, the United States has allowed patent applicants to file provisional applications as an alternative to filing non-provisional utility ...
Joint 3D scanning-3D printing device officially receives US patent
Joint 3D scanning-3D printing device officially receives US patent
Separate devices for 3D scanning and 3D printing could soon be a thing of the past, according to a new ...
Facebook seeks patent for payment system
Facebook seeks patent for payment system
Facebook has moved the country’s patent office seeking patent for its invention relating to a transactional payment system that allows ...
Practical Pointers for managing Patents
Practical Pointers for managing Patents
Adopting good house keeping practices is a prerequisite to efficient management of patents. To avoid costly mistakes while prosecuting and ...
Previous
Next
View all Posts

What's on Your Mind?

Submit your Idea for your Free
Patent Search Now.

FREE PATENT SEARCH
  • 972.402.0000
  • info@lspatents.com

What's on Your Mind?

Submit your Idea for your Free
Patent Search Now.

FREE PATENT SEARCH
  • 972.402.0000
  • info@lspatents.com

Evaluate

  • Phone Interview
  • Initial Meeting
  • Invention Analysis
  • Plan of Action

Develop

  • Invention Design
  • 2D/3D Illustrations
  • Invention Engineering
  • Patent Protection

Launch

  • Market Research
  • Manufacturers Search
  • Invention Brochures
  • Licensing & Royalties

Give Us a Call

972.402.0000

Address

6565 N.MacArthur Blvd, Irving, Texas 75039

Phone

972.402.0000

800.962.3032

972.402.0095

Email

info@lspatents.com

Evaluate

  • Phone Interview
  • Office Meeting
  • Invention Analysis
  • Plan of Action

Develop

  • Invention Design
  • 2D/3D Illustrations
  • Invention Engineering
  • Patent Protection

Launch

  • Market Research
  • Manufacturers Search
  • Invention Brochures
  • Licensing & Royalties

Follow Us

Facebook-f Instagram Linkedin-in Pinterest-p Twitter
© 2022, Lonestar Patent Services, Inc.

Privacy Policy | Terms of Use

Free Invention Analysis

×

Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)

This agreement keeps your idea safe between you and Lonestar Patent Services.

I understand that the product idea information I submit cannot be used, disclosed or sold without my express written permission. I also understand that all Lonestar Patent Services employees are required to sign an ethics and confidentiality agreement for my protection. I believe that I am the original inventor of the idea described herein. I authorize Lonestar Patent Services to review my idea and contact me in 3 to 5 business days with the results. I acknowledge that Lonestar Patent Services monitors and records telephone calls for quality assurance. I understand that Lonestar Patent Services does not promise any financial gain from the development of any new product idea.

By clicking the “submit” button below as my electronic signature, I expressly consent to being contacted about Lonestar Patent Services by phone call, auto-dialed phone call including prerecorded voice messages, text messages or email at any number or email address I provide. I understand that my consent is not a requirement for purchase of services.

Fee based service.