Don’t miss this three-part webinar series featuring representatives from the USPTO on what SMBs need to know to protect their intellectual property
Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are the backbone of the U.S. economy’s growth and job creation. While many factors play an important role in the success of SMBs, securing and enforcing intellectual property (IP) protection is increasingly essential for companies of all sizes.
Unfortunately, many SMBs seeking to compete and grow in the digital economy don’t have access to the legal experience and resources often needed to comprehensively address and understand the complexities of IP issues related to their inventions and brands. Often, this leads SMBs to inadequately or incorrectly register or patent their rights, if they do at all. Addressing these mistakes later can be detrimental to businesses with limited resources, so having the resources to do it correctly the first time is critical. The good news is that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has recognized this threat to SMBs and as a result, has developed toolkits to educate SMBs on the fundamentals of trademark and patent protection, as well as the process and cost of IP registration, and they are looking to share these educational assets and their insights with SMBs across the United States.
We’ve partnered with the USPTO to bring this critical information directly to our members through a three-part webinar series where members will hear directly from USPTO representatives about how SMBs can best protect their IP, how to use the resources the agency has created to help, and ask questions to the USPTO staff directly. Registration links and additional info on each event can be found below. See you there!
- Event 1: Trademark Basics and Registration Procedures for App Developers (presented by the USPTO)
When: May 22, 2023, 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. EDT
What: Hear from USPTO staff on trademark basics and registration procedures to gain a foundational understanding of the trademark protection process, learn about toolkits the USPTO has created for SMBs and how best to use them, and engage directly with the USPTO on challenges and concerns SMBs face during this process.
- Event 2: Patent Basics and Registration Procedures for App Developers (presented by the USPTO)
When: June 20, 2023, 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. EDT
What: Hear from USPTO representatives on patent basics and registration procedures to gain a better understanding of the patent protection process, engage directly with the USPTO on challenges and concerns, and learn more about the resources USPTO has created for SMBs to demystify and simplify the patent application and registration process.
- Event 3: Promoting Patent Quality (presented by ACT | The App Association)
When: July 25, 2023, 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. EDT
What: For years, the improper issuance of broad or invalid patents has enabled bad actors to knowingly acquire low-quality patents and enforce them against good faith U.S. innovators to turn a profit. These entities are known as non-practicing entities (NPEs) or patent assertion entities (PAEs). NPE abuse occurs in federal courts, at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), and even at the International Trade Commission (ITC). Recently, two trends have brought a direct threat to U.S. innovation: 1) foreign NPE abuse, and 2) third-party litigation funding (TPLF) for NPEs by undisclosed entities. These types of abuses disable innovation and have infiltrated critical markets and processes (i.e., licensing standard-essential patents). In the third part of our IP event series, the App Association is hosting an in-person roundtable discussion amongst legislators, U.S. businesses, and the USPTO on how to address patent quality concerns that threaten U.S. innovation.
Keep an eye out for registration info for this in-person event!