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Important Note: Most of events described below are prepared by USPTO regional offices in Dallas, TX, Deitrot, MI, Denver, CO, and San Jose, CA or originated from an USPTO major inventor conference. These events which normally held on-site, are currently offered online, because of COVID-19 situation. Spaced are limited, so consider to register promptly. Please cancel your registration, if you unable to attend.
For earch even listed, a title/location is hiperlinked to an event webpage (with organizers contacts) and a direct linksare given to a registration system (Eventbrite, which may end registration 1-2 day before event, or when classes are full, or cvent in one occasion). Some concurrent/shared events has several registration links. Time of webinars are coverted to ET/EDT, but eveny/registration pages may use local time (CT, MT or PT), which are given in bold font.
USPTO webinars are generally not recorded. For some topics, USPTO offers several recorded computer based trainings (CBTs) which are included for previewing before life events or for reference.
Summary
The training are grouped in three groups:patent searching; patents and patent procedures; and international IP protection.
Patent searching trainings are on a basic level (see, for example, recorded CBTs on patent searching), but may include interesting insights from patent examiners on how they approach development search strategies and useful tips; discussion of CPC searching may be a refresher. Although links are included to more advanced CBTs for examiners on prior art rejections.
Webinars on patents and patent procedures include basic training on patent process (with a session on an overview of USPTO examination procedures), on filing provisional and non-provisional patent applications, and two advanced training on patent application drafting and claim drafting (which may be of interest for better understanding specification and scope of claims) . There is also a training on design patents.[July 24, 2020]
Webinars on international IP protection include one on filing in foreign jurisdictions (with overview of overview PCT and Paris Convention) [Sep. 11, 2020], and a meeting on utility models and designs, etc. protection in China [July 23, 2020]. The latter event with an outstanding faculty might be of interest for those who conduct IP research in this country.
Listing of USPTO training opportunities
Part 1. Webinars and CBTs on patent searching
Learn how to search patents (Silicon Valley USPTO/West Coast regional office of USPTO, virtual)
This 2-hour presentation of supervisory patent examiner (SPE) "will be useful for inventors, entrepreneurs, and those who have a beginning to intermediate knowledge of patents and would like to learn more about patent searching" [Where can you search? When should you search? How do you search using USPTO search tools? (hands-on portion of the presentation involving use of the USPTO Universal Public Workstations (UPWS) will not be available)]
July 17, 2020 1:00 PM ET - 3:00 PM ET | 10:00 AM PT - 12:00 PM PT (registration, ends July 15, 2020)
Note: this is a monthly event; same sessions would be offered Aug. 18 and Sept. 29, 2020, see below)
The Path to a Patent, Part III: Patent searching (Rocky Mountain USPTO, Denver, CO) (virtual)
(how to perform a prior art search using keywords and the Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) system, and how to build a search strategy; learn to search databases used by patent examiners on the USPTO Universal Public Workstations (UPWS); hands-on portion of the presentation will not be available)
August 14, 2020 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM ET | 10:00 AM MT - 12:00 PM MT (registration, ends Aug. 13, 2020)
Learn how to search patents (Silicon Valley USPTO, virtual) (same program as July 17, 2020)
August 18, 2020 1:00 PM ET - 3:00 PM ET | 10:00 AM PT - 12:00 PM PT (registration, ends Aug. 14, 2020)
Patent Wednesday, part three: Patent Searching (The Elijah J. McCoy Midwest Regional USPTO , Detroit, MI - WebEx only)
A part three of a rotating three-part series on the patent process, resource navigation, and patent searching every third Wednesday of each month. Recommended reading prior event: Patent process overview (Step 2)
September 16, 2020 12:30 PM ET - 1:30 PM ET (registration, ends Sep 16, 2020)
Learn how to search patents (Silicon Valley USPTO, virtual) (same program as July 17, 2020)
September 29, 2020 1:00 PM ET - 3:00 PM ET | 10:00 AM PT - 12:00 PM PT (registration, ends Sep 25, 2020)
CBTs on patent searching
“How to Conduct a Preliminary U.S. Patent Search: A Step by Step Strategy” (see also 7-Step [Search] Strategy). [80 slides, 39 min] [Search example: An umbrella which resists inverting and collapsing in a heavy wind, search is based on CPC classification using USPTO website databases] (for applicants)
Planning a Search [Patent Training Academy, 73 slides, 36 min.] (for patent examiners)
There are related CBTs on using prior art rejections (developed USPTO Patent Training Academy for entry level patent examiner training)
Build an understanding of 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1), (a)(2), and (b) [anticipation], as well as 35 U.S.C. 103 [obviousness] and the corresponding concepts and analysis required for prior art rejections. Topics include what qualifies as prior art, making a prima facie case, and the rationales for obviousness.
See also following CBTs on MPEP overview which relates to prior art and prior art rejections.
Part 2. Webinars on patents and patent procedures
Online Training on USPTO patent procedures of interest
Patent Wednesday, part one: Patent Process (Midwest Regional USPTO, Detroit, MI) (virtual)
A part one of a rotating three-part series on the patent process, resource navigation, and patent searching every third Wednesday of each month. Each class builds off the prior class, while it is not necessary, it is recommended to attend the series in order. Recommended reading prior event: Patent process overview.
July 15, 2020 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM ET (registration, ends Jul 15, 2020)
Learn About Design Patents (Texas Regional United States Patent and Trademark Office, Dallas, TX, ; USPTO's Rocky Mountain Regional Office; Silicon Valley Regional USPTO - Virtual Event)
What is a design patent? How does one differ from a utility patent? Learn the basics of the design patent system from a USPTO design supervisory patent examiner. This session is geared toward… all those who would like to learn more about patents and have a beginning to intermediate knowledge of the patent system.
July 24, 2020 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM ET | 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM CT (registration, ends Jul 24, 2020)
July 24, 2020 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM ET | 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM MT(registration, ends Jul 23, 2020)
July 24, 2020 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM ET | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM PT (registration, ends Jul 22, 2020)
The Path to a Patent, Part I: IP basics (USPTO's Rocky Mountain Regional Office, Virtual Location)
Learn about different types of intellectual property (patents, trademarks and copyrights) and get an overview of the patenting process from invention to application to issue. You will also learn about the requirements for patentability, how to determine whether a provisional or nonprovisional application is right for you, and how to weigh the costs and benefits of hiring a patent attorney
July 31, 2020 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM ET | 10:00 AM MT - 12:00 PM MT (registration, ends Jul 30, 2020)
The Path to a Patent, Part II: Learn how to draft a patent application (Rocky Mountain USPTO, Denver, CO. Virtual Location)
Learn how to draft a patent application (Silicon Valley USPTO, virtual) [the same event/instructors as above, but different registration links]
Learn from USPTO experts about the formalities and requirements of drafting a patent application, as well as common pitfalls to avoid. You should have an intermediate knowledge of the intellectual property system in general, and patents specifically, to get the most out of this workshop. We recommend that you take the previous course, “The Path to a Patent, Part 1", first. [July 31, 2020]
August 7, 2020 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM ET | 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM MT (registration, ends Aug 6, 2020) (Starting time has been corrected: from 12 pm to 1 pm]
August 7, 2020 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM ET | 10:00 AM PT - 12:00 PM PT (registration, ends Aug 5, 2020)
Meet the Patent Experts: Class three [nonprovisional applications] (USPTO Texas Regional Office, Dallas TX)
Class three (of five) covers key aspects of nonprovisional applications
August 19, 2020 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM EDT | 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM CDT (registration, ends Aug 19, 2020)
Invention-Con 2020 USPTO Conference (Aug, 20-22, 2020, Online) (registration, ends Aug 20, 2020)
From Agenda for August 20, 2020
12:15 – 1:10 p.m. ET Understanding the patent examination process (Patrick Nolan, Office of Patent Training, USPTO; Leonard Chang, Academy Supervisory Patent Examiner, USPTO)
1:15 – 2:10 p.m. ET Filing a provisional application (Sudhanshu Pathak, Supervisory Patent Examiner, USPTO)
3:15 – 4:10 p.m. ET Best practices for filing a successful patent application (Janice Tippett, Office of Patent Application Processing, USPTO
Learn how to draft patent claims (Silicon Valley USPTO, San Jose, CA, virtual location)
Claim drafting may be the most important part of protecting your invention. Learn the basics of claim drafting from USPTO experts in this interactive workshop. You will develop a better appreciation of how a patent examiner views a claim during the course of examination.
To get the most out of this workshop, you should have an intermediate knowledge of the intellectual property system and of patents specifically. We recommend that you complete the previous sessions, “Learn the basics of intellectual property with a focus on patents” and “Learn how to draft your patent application” before attending.
August 28, 2020, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM ET | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM PT (registration, ends Aug. 26, 2020)
CBTs related to patents and basic patent procedures [USPTO Patent Academy, entry level]
Introduction to patent systems (March 2019, 49 slides)
Types of applications (January 2018, 41 slides)
Basic requirements to file and formalities (63 slides, 19 min.)
Part 3. Webinars on international IP protection
Using overlapping IP rights to protect your products in China (WebEx)
This free two-hour webinar will offer U.S. businesses, inventors, and intellectual property (IP) right holders the opportunity to hear from guest practitioners with extensive IP experience on using overlapping IP rights for protecting products in China. These include design patents, utility model patents, three-dimensional trademarks, copyright, and the protections afforded under China’s Anti-Unfair Competition Law. As part of the program, presenters will walk participants through the process of how they would protect a hypothetical product and the steps they would take in the event of infringement.
Presenters: Amy Hsiao, partner, Adsero IP and Thomas Moga, senior counsel, Dykema
Moderators: Susan Anthony, attorney advisor and Elaine Wu, senior counsel for China IP, both USPTO’s Office of Policy and International Affairs
July 23, 2020 10:30 AM-12:30 PM EDT (access to recording and copies of presentations)
Learn how to protect your IP abroad (Midwest Regional USPTO , Detroit, MI; Rocky Mountain USPTO, Denver, CO; Silicon Valley USPTO, San Jose, CA - virtual locations)
Learn how to help protect your intellectual property in foreign jurisdictions. The USPTO's International Patent Legal Administration will host a two-hour seminar on considerations and options for filing foreign patent applications. The discussion will include an overview of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) and the use of the Paris Convention for non-PCT countries.
September 11, 2020 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM ET (registration, ends Sep.11, 2020)
September 11, 2020 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM ET | 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM MT (registration, ends Sep.10, 2020)
September 11, 2020 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM ET | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM PT (registration, ends Sep.9, 2020)
Related CBT: Introduction to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (21 slides, 10 min.)
Sources:
USPTO events: https://www.uspto.gov/about-us/events (this webpage includes all events listed there; webinars on trademarks, and some basis IP trainings have not being included)
Examiner training materials: https://www.uspto.gov/learning-and-resources/examiner-training-materials (this webpage also includes CBTs on many other aspects of USPTO examination practice of potential interest for a patent searcher: subject matter eligibility, double patenting, USPTO restriction and unity of invention practice; requerements on written description, enablement, "means plus function" claim language; [USPTO] broadest reasonable claim interpretation; IDS, RCE, MPEP overview, etc. See also a related web page "Examination Guidance and Training Materials" "for additional materials used to train patent examiners beyond entry level." This page lists examiners "Combined 102 & 103 Workshop Training (Summer/Fall 2018) (see its vILT version), among others.)
Update 8/5/2020 A link to recording and copies of presentation added to meeting :"Using overlapping IP rights to protect your products in China "
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