Celebrating the National Patent Application Drafting Competition’s winners

Not until a new technology is commercialized does it create prosperity and jobs in communities throughout our country. That journey starts with a high-quality patent application.

This year’s competition featured 43 teams from the United States and one from Canada. 

The teams were tasked with drafting a patent application for a hypothetical invention. This year, the invention was an extra-uterine system to physiologically support a premature fetus in a life-sustaining, fluid environment. Each team performed a prior art search and then prepared a specification and claims.

In following the steps in drafting a patent application, all of the teams gained exposure to patent laws and regulations and applied legal principles to issues arising in U.S. patent law. 

Cross-border competition

The NPADC’s roots date back to 2014.

That year, it began as an "international" competition organized by two law schools, one in the U.S. and the other in Canada. The following year, the agency hosted the very first competition, held at the USPTO’s office in Detroit.

What was at the time called the International Patent Drafting Competition was initially a partnership involving the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and the University of Windsor’s law school in Windsor, Ontario. These universities are located very close to each other, on their respective sides of the Canada-U.S. border.

Several years ago, the USPTO launched the NPADC as a "national" contest, in which all of the agency's five regional outreach offices hosted regional events. Since then, several dozen teams have participated annually.

Many of the hundreds of law students from around the U.S., its territories, and Canada who have participated in the competition since its inception in 2014 have gone on to become IP lawyers, working all across America. Many of them practice before the USPTO — and some have even worked at the agency. Currently, a past NPADC finalist from last year is an intern at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) at the USPTO headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia.

Regional Rounds

In this year’s NPADC, regional rounds were held on March 1 through the USPTO’s five regional outreach offices (ROO).

The teams presented their arguments for patentability to a panel of judges comprised of experienced patent practitioners.

One winner from each region advanced as a finalist:

• The University of Pittsburgh School of Law (Northeast ROO round)
• The University of Minnesota Law School (Midwest ROO round)
• The University of Wisconsin Law School (Rocky Mountain ROO round)
• Arizona State University-Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law (Western ROO round)
• The University of St. Thomas School of Law (Southwest ROO round)

Judges

During the final round, each team had 20 minutes to present before a panel consisting of high-profile guest judges.

The jurists were Brad Chin, partner and registered patent attorney at Bracewell; Nicholas T. Matich, the acting general counsel of the USPTO; and Linda Horner, an administrative patent judge at the USPTO’s PTAB. The judges asked the teams various questions to probe the scope and depth of their prior art searches and to explore how the various claim limitations overcame the prior art.

The judges were impressed by the students’ presentations.

“The patent application submissions were impressive,” stated Horner, who is also a PTAB judge. “The teams all did a fantastic job explaining their claim strategies and responding to our questions. The participants and their coaches and schools should be proud of their accomplishments.”

Competition winners

At the conclusion of the contest, Acting Director Coke Morgan Stewart announced the winners.  

The University of Minnesota Law School and their law-student competitors Ola Ayaso, Ross Brink, and Richard Klinger garnered first-place. The second-place winner was the University of St. Thomas School of Law, and the third-place team was the University of Wisconsin Law School.

Reflecting on their experiences with the NPADC, this year’s winners said they considered it to be a highly worthwhile endeavor.

“All the teams did a great job,” Ayaso said following the competition. “Everyone’s hard work and dedication was clear. Each team brought their own strengths and made the competition a fun and memorable experience.”

For Klinger, "the competition was a fantastic experience. We were able to learn and apply real-world drafting skills and defend our strategic decisions to a panel of experienced judges. It was a valuable experience that helped us prepare for a career in patent law.” 

For more on the winning, placing, and finalist teams, please read this recent USPTO announcement. A video replay of the April 4 NPADC event will be posted to the USPTO’s YouTube channel and will include Stewart’s announcement of the winners.

Special thanks

The USPTO extends special appreciation to all of the student participants—and the professors and administrators at their institutions as well as law firm coaches who all provide knowledge and support —for their commitment and efforts. Their dedication and commitment have made the NPADC a remarkable learning experience over the years.

All of the law students who participated in any stage of the NPADC are future guardians of one of our most coveted and important national treasures: our patent and trademark system that protects the IP rights of inventors and creators. Here at the USPTO, we pledge to continue engaging students in the innovation ecosystem to keep the American economy flourishing for generations to come.

If you want to learn more about the NPADC, it’s not too early to start planning a team for next year's competition. Visit the 2025 NPADC’s webpage for more information or email NPADC@uspto.gov with any questions.