Part 3

────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── State Name of Library Telephone # ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Alabama * Auburn: Ralph Brown 334–844–1747 Draughon Library, Auburn University Birmingham Public Library 205–226–3620 ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Alaska Anchorage: Z. J. Loussac 907–562–7323 Public Library, Anchorage Municipal Libraries ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Arizona * Tempe: Noble Science and 602–965–7010 Engineering Library, Arizona State University ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Arkansas * Little Rock: Arkansas 501–682–2053 State Library ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── California * Los Angeles Public Library 213–228–7220 Sacramento: California State 916–654–0069 Library San Diego Public Library 619–236–5813 * San Francisco Public 415–557–4500 Library ** Sunnyvale Center for 408–730–7290 Innovation, Invention and Ideas ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Colorado Denver Public Library 303–640–6220 ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Delaware Newark: University of 302–831–2965 Delaware Library ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── District of Columbia Washington: Founders 202–806–7252 Library, Howard University ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Florida * Fort Lauderdale: Broward 954–357–7444 County Main Library * Miami-Dade Public Library 305–375–2665 Orlando: University of 407–823–2562 Central Florida Libraries Tampa Campus Library, 813–974–2726 University of South Florida ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Georgia Atlanta: Library and 404–894–4508 Information Center, Georgia Institute of Technology ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Hawaii * Honolulu: Hawaii State 808–586–3477 Library ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Idaho Moscow: University of Idaho 208–885–6235 Library ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Illinois Chicago Public Library 312–747–4450 Springfield: Illinois State 217–782–5659 Library ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Indiana Indianapolis-Marion County 317–269–1741 Public Library West Lafayette: Siegesmund 317–494–2872 Engineering Library, Purdue University ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Iowa Des Moines: State Library of 515–281–4118 Iowa ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Kansas * Wichita: Ablah Library, 316–978–3155 Wichita State University ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Kentucky * Louisville Free Public 502–574–1611 Library ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Louisiana Baton Rouge: Troy H. 504–388–8875 Middleton Library, Louisiana State University ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Maine Orono: Raymond H. Fogler 207–581–1678 Library, University of Maine ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Maryland College Park: Engineering & 301–405–9157 Physical Sciences Library, University of Maryland ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Massachusetts Amherst: Physical Sciences 413–545–1370 and Engineering Library, University of Massachusetts * Boston Public Library 617–536–5400 Ext. 265 ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Michigan Ann Arbor: Media Union 313–647–5735 Library, The University of Michigan Big Rapids: Abigail S. Timme 616–592–3602 Library, Ferris State University ** Detroit: Great Lakes 313–833–3379 Patent and Trademark Center, Detroit Public Library ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Minnesota * Minneapolis Public Library 612–372–6570 and Information Center ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Mississippi Jackson: Mississippi Library 601–359–1036 Commission ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Missouri * Kansas City: Linda Hall 816–363–4600 Library St. Louis Public Library 314–241–2288 Ext. 390 ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Montana Butte: Montana Tech of the 406–496–4281 University of Montana Library ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Nebraska * Lincoln: Engineering 402–472–3411 Library, University of Nebraska-Lincoln ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Nevada Reno: University Library, 702–784–6500 University of Nevada-Reno Ext. 257 ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── New Hampshire Concord: New Hampshire State 603–271–2239 Library ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── New Jersey Newark Public Library 201–733–7782 Piscataway: Library of 908–445–2895 Science and Medicine, Rutgers University ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── New Mexico Albuquerque: Centennial 505–277–4412 Science and Engineering Library, The University of New Mexico ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── New York Albany: New York State 518–474–5355 Library * Buffalo and Erie County 716–858–7101 Public Library New York: Science, Industry 212–592–7000 and Business Library, New York Public Library ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── North Carolina * Raleigh: D.H. Hill 919–515–3280 Library, North Carolina State University ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── North Dakota Grand Forks: Chester Fritz 701–777–4888 Library, University of North Dakota ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Ohio Akron-Summit County Public 330–643–9075 Library Cincinnati: The Public 513–369–6936 Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County * Cleveland Public Library 216–623–2870 Columbus: Ohio State 614–292–6175 University Libraries * Toledo/Lucas County Public 419–259–5212 Library ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Oklahoma * Stillwater: Oklahoma State 405–744–7086 University ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Oregon * Portland: Lewis & Clark 503–768–6786 College ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Pennsylvania * Philadelphia: The Free 215–686–5331 Library of Philadelphia Pittsburgh: The Carnegie 412–622–3138 Library of Pittsburgh University Park: Pattee 814–865–4861 Library, Pennsylvania State University ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Puerto Rico Mayaguez: General Library, 787–832–4040 University of Puerto Rico Ext. 3459 ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Rhode Island Providence Public Library 401–455–8027 ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── South Carolina Clemson: R.M. Cooper 864–656–3024 Library, Clemson University ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── South Dakota Rapid City: Devereaux 605–394–1275 Library, South Dakota School of Mines & Technology ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Tennessee Memphis & Shelby County 901–725–8877 Public Library and Information Center Nashville: Stevenson Science 615–322–2717 and Engineering Library, Vanderbilt University ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Texas Austin: McKinney Engineering 512–495–4500 Library, The University of Texas at Austin * College Station: Sterling 409–845–3826 C. Evans Library, Texas A&M University * Dallas Public Library 214–670–1468 Houston: The Fondren 713–527–8101 Library, Rice University Ext. 2587 Lubbock: Texas Tech 806–742–2282 University Library ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Utah * Salt Lake City: Marriott 801–581–8394 Library, University of Utah ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Vermont Burlington: Bailey Howe 802–656–2542 Library, University of Vermont ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Virginia * Richmond: James Branch 804–828–1104 Cabell Library, Virginia Commonwealth University ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Washington * Seattle: Engineering 206–543–0740 Library, University of Washington ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── West Virginia Morgantown: Evansdale 304–293–2510 Library, West Virginia Ext. 113 University ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Wisconsin Madison: Kurt F. Wendt 608–262–6845 Library, University of Wisconsin-Madison Milwaukee Public Library 414–286–3051 ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Wyoming Casper: Natrona County 307–237–4935 Public Library ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── _Note: * Denotes APS-Text access; ** denotes partnership PTDL. Partnership Libraries have access to APS-Text, APS-Image, and X-Search._

Attorneys and Agents

The preparation of an application for patent and the conducting of the proceedings in the Patent and Trademark Office to obtain the patent is an undertaking requiring the knowledge of patent law and rules and Patent and Trademark Office practice and procedures, as well as knowledge of the scientific or technical matters involved in the particular invention.

Inventors may prepare their own applications and file them in the Patent and Trademark Office and conduct the proceedings themselves, but unless they are familiar with these matters or study them in detail, they may get into considerable difficulty. While a patent may be obtained in many cases by persons not skilled in this work, there would be no assurance that the patent obtained would adequately protect the particular invention.

Most inventors employ the services of registered patent attorneys or patent agents. The law gives the Patent and Trademark Office the power to make rules and regulations governing conduct and the recognition of patent attorneys and agents to practice before the Patent and Trademark Office. Persons who are not recognized by the Patent and Trademark Office for this practice are not permitted by law to represent inventors before the Patent and Trademark Office.

The Patent and Trademark Office maintains a register of attorneys and agents. To be admitted to this register, a person must comply with the regulations prescribed by the Office, which require a showing that the person is of good moral character and of good repute and that he/she has the legal, and scientific and technical qualifications necessary to render applicants for patents a valuable service. Certain of these qualifications must be demonstrated by the passing of an examination. Those admitted to the examination must have a college degree in engineering or physical science or the equivalent of such a degree.

The Patent and Trademark Office registers both attorneys at law and persons who are not attorneys at law. The former persons are now referred to as “patent attorneys” and the latter persons are referred to as “patent agents.” Insofar as the work of preparing an application for a patent and conducting the prosecution in the Patent and Trademark Office is concerned, patent agents are usually just as well qualified as patent attorneys, although patent agents cannot conduct patent litigation in the courts or perform various services which the local jurisdiction considers as practicing law. For example, a patent agent could not draw up a contract relating to a patent, such as an assignment or a license, if the state in which he/she resides considers drafting contracts as practicing law.

Some individuals and organizations that are not registered advertise their services in the fields of patent searching and invention marketing and development. Such individuals and organizations cannot represent inventors before the Patent and Trademark Office. They are not subject to Patent and Trademark Office discipline, and the Office cannot assist inventors in dealing with them.

The Patent and Trademark Office cannot recommend any particular attorney or agent, or aid in the selection of an attorney or agent, as by stating, in response to inquiry that a named patent attorney, agent, or firm, is “reliable” or “capable.” The Patent and Trademark Office publishes a directory of all registered patent attorneys and agents who have indicated their availability to accept new clients, arranged by states, cities, and foreign countries. The Directory may be purchased in paper form from the Government Printing Office or from the PTO’s Office of Electronic Information on the Cassis ASSIST CD-ROM disc. It is also available on the PTO Web site.

The telephone directories of most large cities have, in the classified section, a heading for patent attorneys under which those in that area are listed. Many large cities have associations of patent attorneys.

In employing a patent attorney or agent, the inventor executes a power of attorney or authorization of agent which must be filed in the Patent and Trademark Office and is usually a part of the application papers. When an attorney or agent has been appointed, the Office does not communicate with the inventor directly but conducts the correspondence with the attorney or agent since he/she is acting for the inventor thereafter although the inventor is free to contact the Patent and Trademark Office concerning the status of his/her application. The inventor may remove the attorney or agent by revoking the power of attorney or authorization of agent.

The Patent and Trademark Office has the power to disbar, or suspend from practicing before it, persons guilty of gross misconduct, etc., but this can only be done after a full hearing with the presentation of clear and convincing evidence concerning the misconduct. The Patent and Trademark Office will receive and, in appropriate cases, act upon complaints against attorneys and agents. The fees charged to inventors by patent attorneys and agents for their professional services are not subject to regulation by the Patent and Trademark Office. Definite evidence of overcharging may afford basis for Patent and Trademark Office action, but the Office rarely intervenes in disputes concerning fees.

Disclosure Document

One of the services provided for inventors is the acceptance and preservation by the Patent and Trademark Office for a two year period of papers signed by the inventor(s) disclosing an invention. This disclosure is accepted as evidence of the dates of conception of the invention. The Disclosure Document will be retained for two years and then be destroyed unless it is referred to in a separate letter in a related patent application within those two years.

Disclosure Documents may also be filed at selected Patent and Trademark Depository Libraries (PTDLs), presently including the Sunnyvale (CA) Center for Innovation, Invention and Ideas and Great Lakes Patent and Trademark Center at the Detroit (MI) Public Library. A listing of PTDLs is included in this pamphlet under the heading “Library, Search Room Searches and Patent and Trademark Depository Libraries.” One copy of the document is kept at the PTDL and the original documents are sent to the Patent and Trademark Office for fee collection, processing and retention. Disclosure Documents are kept in confidence by the PTO.

The Disclosure Document is not a patent application and the date of its receipt in the PTO does not become the effective filing date of any patent application subsequently filed. The benefits provided by the document will depend upon the adequacy of the disclosure and therefore, it is recommended that the Disclosure Document be a clear and complete explanation of the manner and process of making and using the invention. When the nature of the invention permits, a drawing or sketch should be included.

A fee must accompany the disclosure. See the current fee schedule. To facilitate the PTO’s electronic data capture and storage of the Disclosure Document, it must be on white paper having dimensions not to exceed 8½ x 11 inches (21.6 X 28.0 cm) with each page numbered. Text and drawings must be sufficiently dark to permit reproduction with commonly used office copying machines. Oversized papers, even if foldable to the above dimensions will not be accepted.

Attachments such as videotapes and working models will not be accepted and will be returned.

The Disclosure Document must be accompanied by a separate signed cover letter stating that it is submitted by, or on behalf of, the inventor(s) and requesting that the material be received into the Disclosure Document Program. The original submission will not be returned. A notice with an identifying number and date of receipt in the PTO will be mailed to the customer, indicating that the Disclosure Document may be relied upon only as evidence and that a patent application should be diligently filed if patent protection is desired.

A brochure on Disclosure Documents is available by calling the PTO General Information Services at 1–800–786–9199 or 703–308–4357.

Who May Apply for a Patent