Patent and Trademark Patent and Trademark Depository Library Depository Library

Program: An OverviewProgram: An OverviewTom TurnerTom Turner

United States Patent and Trademark OfficeUnited States Patent and Trademark Office

ALA Washington June 2007ALA Washington June 2007

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PTDLPPTDLPPISDPISDCISGCISGOCIOOCIOUSPTOUSPTODOCDOC

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PTDLP—Patent and Trademark PTDLP—Patent and Trademark Depository Library ProgramDepository Library Program

PISD—Public Information Services PISD—Public Information Services DivisionDivision

CISG—Customer Information CISG—Customer Information Services GroupServices Group

OCIO—Office of the Chief OCIO—Office of the Chief Information OfficerInformation Officer

USPTO—United States Patent and USPTO—United States Patent and Trademark OfficeTrademark Office

DOC—Department of CommerceDOC—Department of Commerce

USPTO Business

Examine patent applications and Examine patent applications and grant patents;grant patents;

Examine federal trademark Examine federal trademark applications and register federal applications and register federal trademarks;trademarks;

Disseminate information about Disseminate information about patents and trademarks.patents and trademarks.

At one time…

Old Patent Office, Washington, D.C.

Public Search Room, Old Patent Office

USPTO Headquarters AlexandriaNew USPTO campus,Alexandria, Virginia

What is a PTDL?

PTDL is the acronym for a PTDL is the acronym for a “Patent and Trademark “Patent and Trademark Depository Library”Depository Library”

Authorized under Authorized under 35 United States Code 1235 United States Code 12

A library officially A library officially designated by the USPTOdesignated by the USPTO

35 USC 12:

“The Director may supply copies of

specifications and drawings of patents

and published applications for

patents in printed or electronic form to

public libraries in the United States which shall maintain such copies for the use of

the public…”

Selected Milestones of PTDLP

1871 - Printed patents offered to libraries on a1871 - Printed patents offered to libraries on adepository basis.depository basis.

1977 - 1st Patent Depository Conference with1977 - 1st Patent Depository Conference withthe original 22 PTDLs.the original 22 PTDLs.

1982 - 1982 - CASSISCASSIS on-line database is started. on-line database is started.

1989 - Full 1989 - Full CASSISCASSIS CD-ROM implementation. CD-ROM implementation.

1990 - PDLP becomes PTDLP.1990 - PDLP becomes PTDLP.

2000 - Complete patents DVD back file provided.2000 - Complete patents DVD back file provided.

2003 - PubWEST databases offered to all PTDLS.2003 - PubWEST databases offered to all PTDLS.

2006 – Program includes 85 member libraries.2006 – Program includes 85 member libraries.

Types of PTDL Libraries

Public Libraries 31 Public Libraries 31

Academic Libraries 45 Academic Libraries 45

State Libraries 8 State Libraries 8

Special Libraries Special Libraries 1 1

TotalTotal 85 85

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Service Points May Vary by PTDL

PatentsPatents Science/TechnologyScience/Technology LawLaw Government DocumentsGovernment Documents Engineering/Physical SciencesEngineering/Physical Sciences BusinessBusiness General ReferenceGeneral Reference

www.uspto.gov

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www.uspto.gov/go/ptdl/

PTDL Research Assistance

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Commonly asked patent questions...

How do I do a patent search?

How much does it cost to get a

patent?

Where can I find a list of patent attorneys?

How do I apply for a patent?

Do you have info on invention promotion

firms?

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“Why should I go to a library; this is all on the Internet, right?”

Patent searching is complex and not intuitive. Patent searching is complex and not intuitive. An inventor is searching through over 7 million An inventor is searching through over 7 million

U.S. patents if their invention is novel and non-U.S. patents if their invention is novel and non-obvious.obvious.

Also, the prior art that should be also be searched Also, the prior art that should be also be searched includes foreign patents and non-patent literature includes foreign patents and non-patent literature such as journal articles, conference proceedings such as journal articles, conference proceedings and dissertations—all places that public and dissertations—all places that public disclosures of new inventions can be disclosures of new inventions can be documented.documented.

Learning how to do a search can save money.Learning how to do a search can save money.

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Common Misconceptions in Searching Patents and Trademarks

Novice patent searchers incorrectly Novice patent searchers incorrectly assume that they can do a through assume that they can do a through patent search by searching with patent search by searching with keywords.keywords.

Novice trademark searchers incorrectly Novice trademark searchers incorrectly assume that they can do a good assume that they can do a good trademark search by searching only the trademark search by searching only the exact mark they plan to use.exact mark they plan to use.

Services of a PTDL Information on not only how to obtain a Information on not only how to obtain a

patent, but how to have commercial patent, but how to have commercial success with one’s invention with library’s success with one’s invention with library’s business resourcesbusiness resources

Assistance with preliminary patent and Assistance with preliminary patent and trademark searching (showing How to trademark searching (showing How to Search using generic examples)Search using generic examples)

Assistance to small businesses on how to Assistance to small businesses on how to establish a business and how IP protection establish a business and how IP protection can help their businesscan help their business

Liaison for inventor groupsLiaison for inventor groups

PTDL Database Workstations

Cassis2 Patent & TM Database(Classification and Search Support Information System)

Searching Patents: PatFT & AppFT(Patents Full Text and Applications Full Text)

Searching Trademarks: TESS(Trademark Electronic Search System)

PubWEST: Patent Databases(Public Web-based Examiner Search Tool)

Users of PTDLs InventorsInventors AttorneysAttorneys Patent ProfessionalsPatent Professionals EntrepreneursEntrepreneurs MusiciansMusicians Students/FacultyStudents/Faculty Researchers/EngineersResearchers/Engineers Information BrokersInformation Brokers HistoriansHistorians GenealogistsGenealogists

PTDL Program Services Train PTDL staffTrain PTDL staff Market PTDL services and standardsMarket PTDL services and standards Annual Training Seminars for PTDLsAnnual Training Seminars for PTDLs Liaison between PTDLs and USPTOLiaison between PTDLs and USPTO

PTDL Program Services Support PTDL public seminars and programsSupport PTDL public seminars and programs E-Mail and toll-free telephone access to USPTO for E-Mail and toll-free telephone access to USPTO for

PTDLsPTDLs Fellowship programFellowship program Develop educational materials via PTDLP CommonsDevelop educational materials via PTDLP Commons Provide technical and research assistanceProvide technical and research assistance

PTDL Training & Seminars

PTDLS’ Obligations to USPTO

Provide free access to the collection.Provide free access to the collection. Assist the public in efficient use of patent and Assist the public in efficient use of patent and

trademark information.trademark information. Attend the Annual PTDL Training Seminar.Attend the Annual PTDL Training Seminar. Maintain and protect the integrity of the collection. Maintain and protect the integrity of the collection. Acquire a minimum 20-year backfile of U.S. Acquire a minimum 20-year backfile of U.S.

patents.patents. Retain all depository items until disposal is Retain all depository items until disposal is

arranged through PTDLP.arranged through PTDLP. $50 annual fee.$50 annual fee.

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PTDL—D also stands for

Delivering Delivering programming and expert one-on-one programming and expert one-on-one reference services geared to the needs of reference services geared to the needs of independent inventors and small businessesindependent inventors and small businesses

DrivingDriving the local economies with increased the local economies with increased intellectual property activityintellectual property activity

Delineating Delineating a focal point for customers looking for a focal point for customers looking for information on intellectual property protectioninformation on intellectual property protection

DesignatingDesignating that library as an official cooperative that library as an official cooperative partner with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Officepartner with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Visit us at ALA Booth 3967

Patent and Trademark Depository Patent and Trademark Depository Library ProgramLibrary Program

United States Patent and Trademark OfficeUnited States Patent and Trademark Office

Madison West, 4A20Madison West, 4A20

P.O. Box 1450P.O. Box 1450

Alexandria, VA 22313-1450Alexandria, VA 22313-1450

E-Mail: ptdloffice@uspto.govE-Mail: ptdloffice@uspto.gov