The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a Federal Register Notice announcing a public listening session on June 7, 2023, 1 - 4 p.m. ET, in Alexandria, Virginia, to seek feedback on the nationwide network of independently operated patent pro bono (free) programs.
The Unleashing American Innovators Act of 2022 requires the Director of the USPTO to complete a study of the patent pro bono programs and assess their functionality and health. The USPTO is interested in gaining feedback related to:
- What factors encourage attorneys to volunteer to participate in the patent pro bono programs?
- What factors deter attorneys from volunteering to participate in the patent pro bono programs?
- Would the removal of any of the current participation requirements for the patent pro bono programs be a deterrent for attorneys or agents to volunteer to participate in the programs?
- Are there any participation requirements that attorneys would like to see changed or added to facilitate their representation of participants?
- Are the patent pro bono programs sufficiently serving existing applicants?
- Are the patent pro bono programs sufficiently funded to serve prospective and existing applicants?
A complete list of areas being addressed in the study can be found in the Federal Register Notice.
Participation
For this listening session, the USPTO is seeking input from stakeholders that include, but are not limited to, patent attorneys, patent agents, law firms, non-profit organizations, academic institutions, public interest groups, and the general public.
The USPTO welcomes feedback from stakeholders to support its study to evaluate the patent pro bono programs, which will be used to make recommendations to Congress regarding possible administrative and legislative actions. This listening session will include a presentation from stakeholders in the patent pro bono program and provide an opportunity for the public to directly comment on these areas of inquiry.
Federal Register Notice: Additional details about the listening session are found in a Federal Register Notice published on April 12, 2023.
Registration is free, on a first-come, first-served basis. Registrants may attend the listening session in person in Alexandria, Virginia, or participate via a virtual WebEx conference. For in person attendance you must register on or before June 2, 2023. All participants must register to attend.
Register to attend in person Register to attend online
Session information
Agenda: The agenda can be found here.
Transcript: The transcript can be found here.
Presentation: The slides presented at the listening session are found here.
Biographies: Presenter Biographies are found here.
Additional information: For non-press inquiries, please contact Grant Corboy, at Grant.Corboy@uspto.gov
Accessibility accommodation
If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation, please submit your request to the contact information listed above.