CTC was joined by an expert USPTO panel on May 21, the second part of our IP 101 series. Derris Banks and Jason Lott returned and brought their colleagues Tariq Hafiz, Patent Examiner, and Conrad Wong, IP Attaché, to round out the panel.
After introductions, each member gave an overview of their specialties and contextualized them for attendees.
They started with a discussion of the importance of patents and trademarks domestically and internationally. The resources highlighted to help Wisconsin businesses protect their IP internationally include:
Once the Q&A opened, the discussion shifted to learning how to prevent scams. The experts outlined some high-level options and provided the following resources:
Panelists understood the concerns attendees had about the value of protections and their inquiries about hiring an IP attorney, so they shared the following:
- USPTO’s Hiring a U.S.-licensed Attorney
- USPTO’s IP Legal Assistance Programs
- LegalCORPS Inventor Assistance Program
- Providing pro bono patent support
The panel wrapped up with a discussion on how to get started that hit home the point of “Learn! Learn! Learn!” Check out some of the resources so you can start learning:
Want to know more, and get critical questions answered? Reach out to Wisconsin CTC to start, or continue, your entrepreneurial journey.
