Welcome to the Mississippi Library Commission’s Patent and Trademark Resource Center!
We were designated as a PTRC by the United States Patent and Trademark Office in 1990. As Patent and Trademark Resource Center representatives, staff can:
- Show you how to use patent and trademark search tools
- Explain the application process to you
- Assist you in using the USPTO’s directory of local patent attorneys
- Provide a private space to conduct patent and trademark research on a first-come, first-served basis
- Help you find patent and trademark owner and assignee information
- Connect you to other USPTO resources
However, we are not legal professionals and cannot provide advice about your patent/trademark search or application, conduct patent/trademark searches for you, or assist in writing patent/trademark applications. For individualized assistance, we recommend contacting a patent or trademark attorney. We can direct you to an attorney or legal clinic.
The Mississippi Library Commission’s PTRC has a private research area available on a first-come, first-served basis. We also have a collection of materials on the patent and trademark process available for public use.
Reference staff can give an overview of the functionality of the patent and trademark databases in person. To ensure staff availability, please call the reference desk at 601-432-4492 to make an appointment. Staff use prepared examples to explain how the patent and trademark databases and tools work, but cannot give direct guidance on your specific invention or application.
We have curated information from the USPTO on various patent and trademark topics below. If you have further questions, contact the reference desk at 601-432-4492 or mlcref@mlc.lib.ms.us.
Information about the PTRC program: https://www.uspto.gov/learning-and-resources/patent-trademark-resource-centers
If you aren’t sure what type of intellectual property protection you need, you can use the IP Identifier tool available here: https://ipidentifier.uspto.gov/.
Trademarks
What is a trademark? According to the USPTO, “A trademark can be any word, phrase, symbol, design, or a combination of these things that identifies your goods or services. It’s how customers recognize you in the marketplace and distinguish you from your competitors.”
Trademark Basics from the USPTO: https://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/basics/what-trademark
Trademark Examples: https://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/basics/trademark-process#step1
Trademark Process Overview: https://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/basics/trademark-process#step2
Hiring an Attorney: https://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/basics/why-hire-private-trademark-attorney
Trademark Search: https://tmsearch.uspto.gov/search/search-information
Federal Trademark Searching: Overview Video from USPTO: https://www.uspto.gov/learning-and-resources/uspto-videos/federal-trademark-searching-overview
Mississippi Trademark Search: https://www.sos.ms.gov/search-ms-trademarks
Protecting Against Trademark Scams: https://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/protect
Other Resources & Assistance:
Trademark Assistance Center: 1-800-786-9199 (press 1) https://www.uspto.gov/learning-and-resources/support-centers/trademark-assistance-center
The Trademark Assistance Center (TAC) is the main support center for all customers, from first-time filers to legal professionals and experienced trademark applicants. We can answer your questions on a variety of trademark topics.
The Trademark Assistance Center can assist with:
- General information about registering a trademark
- Trademark literature and publications
- Updates on the status of trademark applications and registrations
- Answers to case-specific questions about an application or registration
- Help navigating electronic forms and systems
- Help finding information on our website about the meaning of trademark terms and concepts, how to start the application process, application and registration timelines, and more.
Patents
What is a patent? According to the USPTO, “A U.S. patent gives you, the inventor, the right to “exclude others from making, using, offering for sale, or selling” an invention or “importing” it into the U.S. A plant patent gives you additional rights on the “parts” of plants (e.g., a plant patent on an apple variety would include rights on the apples from the plant variety). What is granted is not the right to make, use, offer for sale, sell or import the invention, but the right to stop others from doing so. If someone infringes on your patent, you may initiate legal action. U.S. patents are effective only within the U.S. and its territories and possessions.”
What can be patented? For a patent to be issued, your invention must meet four conditions:
- Able to be used (the invention must work and cannot just be a theory)
- A clear description of how to make and use the invention
- New, or “novel” (something not done before)
- “Not obvious,” as related to a change to something already invented
There are three types of patents:
Utility Patents: For inventing a new or improved and useful process, machine, article of manufacture, or composition of matter.
Design Patents: For inventing a new, original, and ornamental design for an article of manufacture.
Plant Patents: For inventing or discovering and asexually reproducing any distinct and new variety of plant.
Patent Public Search: https://www.uspto.gov/patents/search/patent-public-search
Tutorial Videos on Patent Public Search from the USPTO: https://www.uspto.gov/patents/training/patent-public-search-tutorial-videos
Other Resources & Assistance:
Patent Pro Bono Program: https://www.uspto.gov/patents/basics/using-legal-services/pro-bono/patent-pro-bono-program?MURL=ProBonoPatents
If you’re an inventor or small business owner, you may be eligible for free legal assistance in preparing and filing a patent application. The Patent Pro Bono Program is a nationwide network of independently operated regional programs that match volunteer patent attorneys and agents with financially underresourced inventors and small businesses to provide free legal assistance in securing patent protection.
Requirements
- While each regional program in the national network may have distinct admission guidelines, these are the common requirements, generally speaking:
- Income – gross household income less than three times the federal poverty level guidelines (though some regional programs may have different criteria)
- Knowledge – demonstrated understanding of the patent system either by having a provisional application already on file with the USPTO or having successfully completed the certificate training course (certificado de formación en español)
- Invention – ability to describe the particular features of your invention and how it works
Mississippi’s Patent Pro Bono Partner: Gulf South Invents https://ellanola.org/for-inventors/
Pro Se Assistance Program: https://www.uspto.gov/patents/basics/using-legal-services/pro-se-assistance-program
The patent process is a complex set of laws, regulations, policies and procedures; therefore, the USPTO always recommends using a registered patent attorney or agent to assist in preparing your application. The USPTO also recognizes that the cost of legal assistance is prohibitive for many applicants, particularly independent inventors and small businesses. The Pro Se Assistance Program is dedicated to help independent inventors and small businesses meet their goal of protecting valuable intellectual property.
The Pro Se Assistance Program provides outreach and education to applicants (also known as “pro se” applicants) who file patent applications without the assistance of a registered patent attorney or agent. USPTO employees cannot give legal advice. However, through increased assistance and resources for independent inventor and small business communities, the program aims to increase the quality of pro se applications and assist pro se applicants with making informed decisions regarding their patent applications.
Contact pro se assistance:
For general inquiries, questions about your application, or other pro se matters, the Pro Se Assistance Program can be contacted in a variety of ways:
Email: ProSeAssistanceCenter@uspto.gov
Toll-free phone number: 1-866-767-3848
Post mail:
Pro Se Assistance, Mail Stop 24
P.O. Box 1450
Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450
One-on-one assistance (by appointment):
One-on-one assistance is available via video conference or telephone. Pro se personnel are available to meet with applicants to answer patent-related questions and assist in filing their applications. Inventors may take advantage of one-on-one assistance by contacting the Pro Se Assistance Center to schedule an appointment; use the below information to phone, email, or click the appointment button below:
For an appointment:
Please call 1-866-767-3848 or email ProSeAssistanceCenter@uspto.gov.
General USPTO Information
Fee Schedule: https://www.uspto.gov/learning-and-resources/fees-and-payment/uspto-fee-schedule
For additional information, contact MLC’s reference desk at 601-432-4492 or mlcref@mlc.lib.ms.us.