The Vermont Patent & Trademark Resource Center, designated by the Patent & Trademark Office (PTO) in November 1996, is free and open to the public.
PTRC library representatives can provide the following forms of assistance:
- introduction to patent searching and patent classification, including the Cooperative Patent Classification system
- demonstrations of how to use search tools to conduct a patent or trademark search
- access to USPTO research tools, including examiner-based search systems such as PubEAST and PubWEST (specialized tools used by professional searchers, patent attorneys, and patent agents)
- access to literature from the US Patent and Trademark Office on application procedures and other USPTO business processes
- access to self-help books and other literature on a variety of intellectual property (IP) subjects, including patenting, trademark registration, licensing, and copyright
- orientation to the USPTO website and other IP-related information sources
- referrals to appropriate contacts for IP-related transactions, business planning, and entrepreneurship education
- access to patent search databases
- directions to information explaining the application process and fee schedule
- access to a directory of local patent attorneys who are licensed to practice before the USPTO
- classes, workshops, and presentations on intellectual property topics
- assistance on how to do historical research on patents and trademarks
- assistance on how to track current research by a company or non-profit
- help finding patent assignee information
The PTRC is located in the Howe Library Government Information area. See the Howe Library's PTRC webpage for more information.
