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# Inventors Digest

The magazine for idea people

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://inventorsdigest.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [TMI!](https://inventorsdigest.com/social-media-boundaries-for-inventors) - How to avoid sharing too much information about your invention on social media by posting with purpose.
- [Tooth Fairy Reinvented](https://inventorsdigest.com/tooth-fairy-reinvented) - Dentist’s Tooth Fairy box keeps the magic of childhood alive in an elegant, practical way
- [Worst Inventions of All Time: Inventors Digest Top 10](https://inventorsdigest.com/worst-inventions-of-all-time-inventors-digest-top-10) - Inventors Digest narrows Time’s 50 worst inventions list to 10, plus one controversial addition.
- [How myFirst Built Safer Tech for Kids](https://inventorsdigest.com/myfirst-safer-tech-for-kids) - myFirst founder G-Jay Yong built a safer kids tech ecosystem around creativity, trust and guided access.
- [AI: The New Eraser and the Risk to Factual Records](https://inventorsdigest.com/ai-the-new-eraser) - Inventor Jason Alan Snyder warns that overreliance on AI threatens factual records and primary sources.
- [How AI Is Changing the Inventor’s Workflow](https://inventorsdigest.com/how-ai-is-changing-the-inventors-workflow) - Inventor Joe Manico explains how AI accelerates research, prior art searching and invention workflows
- [Pinball, Before its Tilt](https://inventorsdigest.com/who-invented-the-pinball-machine) - Game’s long post-Prohibition popularity came despite gambling overtones, ties to organized crime
- [YouTube, Copyright and the DMCA](https://inventorsdigest.com/youtube-copyright-and-the-dmca) - Why copyrighted content remains on YouTube despite DMCA rules, enforcement tools and takedown systems
- [It’s a Grand Old Flag. But Who Designed it?](https://inventorsdigest.com/who-designed-the-american-flag) - Did Betsy Ross really design the American flag? Historians weigh the evidence behind the Stars and Stripes.
- [The Spirit of '76](https://inventorsdigest.com/the-spirit-of-76) - As America celebrates a milestone birthday, its hunger to invent withstands all changes and challenges
- [Cultivating the Next Generation of Invention Education Teachers](https://inventorsdigest.com/student-inventor-to-patent-katia-avila-pinedo) - A high school invention project inspired Katia Avila Pinedo’s journey from student inventor to teacher and patent holder
- [This Engineer Is Creating a Path for Accessible Solar Energy](https://inventorsdigest.com/monique-dyers-empowersun-solar) - Monique Dyers helps landowners assess solar potential with EmpowerSun Solutions and expand access to clean energy.
- [USPTO Backlog Drops to Two Year Low Amid Rising Patent Activity](https://inventorsdigest.com/uspto-backlog-two-year-low) - USPTO cuts unexamined patent backlog to a two year low, signaling improved processing and momentum for applicants.
- [Short-Form Video Tips for Inventors](https://inventorsdigest.com/short-form-video-tips-for-inventors) - How inventors can use simple, low-pressure short-form video to demonstrate products and build trust online.
- [Using Invention to Increase Mindfulness](https://inventorsdigest.com/ai-mindfulness-device-student-inventor) - A high school inventor’s award-winning stress-reducing technology builds on an ancient relaxation technique.
- [Grant Funding Strategies for Inventors](https://inventorsdigest.com/grant-funding-strategies-for-inventors) - Grant expert Megan Pater explains how inventors can find funding by aligning ideas with the right grants and programs.
- [Social Media Marketing for Inventors: Choose Credibility](https://inventorsdigest.com/social-media-marketing-for-inventors-choose-credibility) - Inventors can build trust on social media with calm messaging, clear visuals and consistent posting habits.
- [From 5G Pioneer to Stroke Detection Innovator](https://inventorsdigest.com/shih-mo-tiposi-stroke-detection) - Wireless pioneer Shih Mo left retirement to invent Tiposi, a microwave imaging device designed to detect strokes in seconds.
- [AI and Intellectual Property: Risk, Infringement and Innovation](https://inventorsdigest.com/ai-intellectual-property-infringement-innovation) - AI is transforming invention, but raising complex questions about infringement training, data, and responsibility in IP law.
- [How Inventors Get Discovered on Social Media](https://inventorsdigest.com/how-inventors-get-discovered-on-social-media) - Inventors are discovered before the pitch. Learn how a steady social presence helps partners, investors, and customers find.
- [USPTO Reaches One Million Electronic Patent Grants](https://inventorsdigest.com/uspto-one-million-electronic-patent-grants) - USPTO issues its one millionth electronic patent grant, marking a major milestone in modernizing the patent process.
- [Betty Boop, Public Domain Day, and the Limits of Copyright](https://inventorsdigest.com/betty-boop-public-domain) - Public Domain Day opens new opportunities as early versions of iconic characters become free while later designs remain protected.
- [WIPO Global Awards 2026 Now Open for Startups and SMEs](https://inventorsdigest.com/wipo-global-awards-2026-apply-now) - WIPO Global Awards 2026 are open inviting startups and SMEs worldwide to apply for recognition mentorship and support.
- [CES 2026 Recap: AI Trends, Health Tech, and Exhibitor Tips](https://inventorsdigest.com/ces-2026-recap-exhibitor-tips) - A recap of CES 2026 with tips for exhibitors attending the world’s most high-profile, high-tech experience
- [James Dyson Award: Virtual Info Session (March 10)](https://inventorsdigest.com/james-dyson-award-virtual-info-session-march-10) - A free virtual session on March 10 for students and educators exploring the James Dyson Award, with insights from Dyson engineers and academic judges.
- [From Licensing to Market: Scott Putnam on Inventing Success](https://inventorsdigest.com/scott-putnam-swat-n-scoop) - Toy inventor Scott Putnam shares his journey from licensing to manufacturing Swat-N-Scoop
- [5 Tips for Stunning Product Photos on Social Media](https://inventorsdigest.com/product-photos-social-media-tips) - Showcase your invention with high-quality photos that boost engagement and sales.
- [Inventors We Lost in 2025](https://inventorsdigest.com/inventors-we-lost-in-2025) - Ten innovators who died in 2025 left behind more than 215 patents and a legacy of creativity, curiosity, and problem solving.
- [Invention as Liberation](https://inventorsdigest.com/invention-education-problem-focused-mindset) - Invention education provides freedom for all students to cultivate a problem-focused mindset
- [A Son’s Search for Comfort Inspired a Therapeutic Robotic Dog](https://inventorsdigest.com/a-sons-search-for-comfort-inspired-a-therapeutic-robotic-dog) - Tom Stevens’ need to find comfort for his dementia-stricken mother leads to his company's therapeutic robotic dog
- [VentureWell Marks 30 Years of Empowering Inventors](https://inventorsdigest.com/venturewell-30-years-of-innovation) - For three decades, VentureWell has helped innovators turn big ideas into real-world solutions—fueling thousands of startups, technologies, and lasting social impact.
- [IP Buddy Expands Access to Free AI-Powered IP Education](https://inventorsdigest.com/ip-buddy-ai-ip-education) - IPOEF’s IP Buddy and IP Made Easy are helping educators and innovators learn about patents and trademarks through free, interactive AI tools that make intellectual property simple and engaging.
- [10 Tips to Leverage Technology for Business Growth](https://inventorsdigest.com/leverage-technology-for-business-growth) - Discover how to identify, acquire and apply new technologies outside your organization. These 10 expert tips show how embracing external innovation can give your business a lasting competitive edge.
- [Why Most Ideas Fail](https://inventorsdigest.com/why-most-ideas-fail) - Most ideas fail due to obstacles like lack of funding, weak market need, or bad timing. Here’s what every inventor should know from "The Inventor’s Playbook" by Ben Greenberg.
- [How to Share Prototypes Without Revealing Ideas](https://inventorsdigest.com/how-to-share-prototypes-without-revealing-ideas) - Learn how to share your works in progress on social media to build excitement, gather feedback and attract followers—all while keeping your invention’s secrets safe.
- [Jerry Lemelson’s Legacy: From Inventor to The Lemelson Foundation](https://inventorsdigest.com/jerry-lemelson-legacy-foundation) - Sons recall how Jerry Lemelson’s passion for inventing and inventor rights begat the iconic, evolving Lemelson Foundation
- [IP Made Easy](https://inventorsdigest.com/ip-made-easy) - Learn intellectual property in a fun, relatable way with IP Made Easy, a free online course that demystifies patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets through stories and real-world examples.
- [Trio 3 & Trio 3 Pro: Dual Laptop Screens](https://inventorsdigest.com/trio-3) - Add dual high-resolution screens to your laptop for a triple workspace, lightweight portability, and seamless rotation on Mac and Windows devices.
- [Meet IP Buddy: AI Avatars](https://inventorsdigest.com/ipoef-ipbuddy) - IPOEF’s IP Buddy revolutionizes IP education with lifelike avatar that answers questions
- [IP Is Everywhere](https://inventorsdigest.com/ip-is-everywhere) - IPOEF education campaign, highlighted by the AI-powered, groundbreaking IP Buddy, thrives on the road
- [What’s Your Best Patent Intelligence Tool?](https://inventorsdigest.com/whats-your-best-patent-intelligence-tool) - Consider these qualities and features independent inventors should be looking for
- [Patent Essentials](https://inventorsdigest.com/part-1-of-2-patent-essentials) - From a former USPTO official: Why a patent search matters, and how to do it right
- [Patent Essentials](https://inventorsdigest.com/patent-essentials) - From a former USPTO official: How the patent process works, and how to make it work for you
- [Keep Up on Your Patent Landscaping](https://inventorsdigest.com/keep-up-on-yourpatent-landscaping) - Crucial strategy involves searching, analyzing, visualizing existing patents to identify gaps and chances to find possible partners—and competitors
- [Case Study: A Fresh Win](https://inventorsdigest.com/case-study-a-fresh-win) - How FluidityIQ helped an independent inventor protect his energy-recovering residential air ventilation system
- [Game Design Tutorial](https://inventorsdigest.com/game-design-tutorial) - Awarded pro provides step-by-step processes and strategies for inventing a game
- [Eureka Momentum in STEM Education](https://inventorsdigest.com/eureka-momentum) - High school students invent real-world tech through MIT’s InvenTeam program
- [Boujee Antibacterial Toilet Brush](https://inventorsdigest.com/boujee) - Boujee is an antibacterial, stylish, odor-resistant alternative to traditional toilet brushes.
- [Saltgator Desktop Soft Gel Injection Molding Machine](https://inventorsdigest.com/saltgator) - Said to be the first of its kind, Saltgator lets you heat, mix and inject from one desktop device.
- [Semantic Search: Why Better Prompts Unlock Better Patent Results](https://inventorsdigest.com/semantic-search) - AI-powered semantic search tools revolutionize patent discovery—but only when you craft specific, thoughtful prompts to guide results.
- [Why Every Inventor Needs a Patent Intelligence Tool](https://inventorsdigest.com/why-every-inventor-needs-a-patent-intelligence-tool) - Patent intelligence tools help inventors save costs, strengthen patents, and gain competitive insight—making them a strategic investment, not a luxury.
- [Change Your Game / Cambia tu Juego: Hands-On Sports Innovation at the Smithsonian](https://inventorsdigest.com/change-your-game-lemelson-center) - Explore the Lemelson Center's exhibit, “Change Your Game / Cambia tu Juego,” where interactive sports technology sparks creativity and inventive play.
- [IPOEF 2025 Inventors of the Year: Lee & Erin Hanson](https://inventorsdigest.com/ipoef-2025-inventors-lee-erin-hanson) - Lee and Erin Hanson of Guardian Innovations are protecting athletes with groundbreaking sports gear. Their innovations combine safety and smart intellectual property protection.
- [A Faster Path to Smarter Innovation: How IP.com Powers the Future of AI](https://inventorsdigest.com/a-faster-path-to-smarter-innovation) - IP.com’s AI-driven IP Suite helps inventors, enterprises, and governments innovate smarter, faster, and more securely.
- [Designing History](https://inventorsdigest.com/cover-feature-designing-history) - 52 years ago, Londoner John Pasche took Mick Jagger’s challenge and spun it into IP gold BY REID CREAGER
- [Listen to This Song](https://inventorsdigest.com/cover-features-listen-to-this-song) - Beatles’ Northern Songs/Michael Jackson misadventures are a lesson for all who want to protect their creative works BY REID CREAGER
- [Street Smart](https://inventorsdigest.com/bright-ideas-street-smart) - Former college roommates parlay inner-circle coolness into hot hip-hop jewelry brand BY ALYSON DUTCH
- [Spared and Spurred](https://inventorsdigest.com/cover-features-spared-and-spurred) - Inventor/entrepreneur Molly Wilson, who could have been on that plane, lives with added gratitude and purpose BY REID CREAGER
- [Power Surge](https://inventorsdigest.com/cover-features-power-surg) - As women entrepreneurs explode in numbers, groups build strength via networking and innovation BY REID CREAGER
- [Nutty About Putty](https://inventorsdigest.com/cover-features-nutty-about-putty) - Aaron Muderick walked away from his life’s dream to build a creative and purposeful toy empire BY REID CREAGER
- [Pretty Resilient](https://inventorsdigest.com/cover-features-pretty-resilient) - Cara Brzezicki has created to help people all her life, and nothing’s going to stop her now BY REID CREAGER
- [Impact Partners](https://inventorsdigest.com/cover-feature-impact-partners) - IPWatchdog celebrates its silver anniversary as the gold standard for patent advocacy and intellectual property news BY REID CREAGER
- [What the Heck Is He Up To Now?](https://inventorsdigest.com/what-the-heck-is-he-up-to-now) - 10 Questions With: Steve Greenberg, ‘The Gadget Guy’ BY EDITH G. TOLCHIN
- [10 Questions With ... James Howard](https://inventorsdigest.com/10-questions-with-james-howard) - Educator, industrial design expert and multi-patented inventor discusses the Black Inventors Hall of Fame Museum, slated to open in late 2027
- [Free? Aye, Matey](https://inventorsdigest.com/free-aye-matey) - Mickey Mouse has company: The earliest Popeye has timed out into the public domain
- [Light Spectrum](https://inventorsdigest.com/light-spectrum) - Christina Collura’s work with son’s autism inspires educational, chalkboard-based puzzles
- [James Dyson Award 2024 U.S. Winners](https://inventorsdigest.com/james-dyson-award-2024-u-s-winners) - 2 UCLA students win for vaporizer to help overcome nicotine addiction
- [Collegiate Inventors Winners](https://inventorsdigest.com/collegiate-inventors-winners) - A couple of groundbreaking techniques for safer surgeries were among the top four winners in the 2024 Collegiate Inventors Competition®.
- [IPOEF Inventor of the Year](https://inventorsdigest.com/ipoef-inventor-of-the-year) - The 2024 IPO Education Foundation’s Inventor of the Year award goes to two teams of inventors who have revolutionized diabetes treatments.
- [National Inventors Hall of Fame to Induct 17](https://inventorsdigest.com/national-inventors-hall-of-fame-to-induct-17) - National Inventors Hall of Fame to Induct 17 Medical-related devices and processes prominent among 9 active honorees
- [Discover Agentic AI](https://inventorsdigest.com/discover-agentic-ai) - Advanced form of artificial intelligence, not pre-programmed, can analyze, plan and adapt on its own
- [It’s No. 1!](https://inventorsdigest.com/time-tested-its-no-1) - The Foam Finger is a pop culture mainstay—with an inspirational history.
- [Super Forever](https://inventorsdigest.com/time-tested-super-forever) - Made by Accident, the Suoer Ball was an unlikely Cultural Phenomenon in the 1960s
- [Nashville. Yummy!](https://inventorsdigest.com/time-tested-nashville-yummy) - Exploding, star-glazed ‘Music City’ is home to three tasty U.S. inventions
- [Going With the Flowbee](https://inventorsdigest.com/time-tested-going-with-the-flowbee) - Kitchy hair-cutting product buttressed by pandemic—and a surprise celebrity endorsement.
- [Still On Guard](https://inventorsdigest.com/time-tested-still-on-guard) - It would be as sweet as a cheese-and-pineapple double crust if Claudio Daniel Troglia got the rightful credit for his invention.
- [Campy Pioneer](https://inventorsdigest.com/time-tested-campy-pioneer) - The Clapper was an early home automation innovation almost a half-century ago.
- [Unfailingly Flailing](https://inventorsdigest.com/time-tested-unfailingly-flailing) - Origin and early history of tube men is a cautionary IP tale for collaborators BY REID CREAGER “Wacky, waving, inflatable, arm-flailing tube man! “Wacky, waving, inflatable, arm-flailing tube man! “Wacky, waving, inflatable, arm-flailing tube man!” The Announcer Guy voice on an old bit from “Family Guy” continues: “Hi, I’m Al Harrington, president and CEO of
- [A Slow Trek to Fast](https://inventorsdigest.com/a-slow-trek-to-fast) - Rapid-fire Pickleball evolves over 60 years as one of America’s most popular sports
- [Hurricane Helper](https://inventorsdigest.com/time-tested-hurricane-helper) - An indispensable tool of freedom, the chainsaw has debated origins that included a cringeworthy use
- [Golden Oops-iversary](https://inventorsdigest.com/golden-oops-iversary) - 1974 copyright lapse of ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ begat a wild IP journey
- [Sticky Distinction](https://inventorsdigest.com/sticky-distinction) - Louisiana can claim cotton candy—sort of—as a highlight among its well-known inventions
- [Rooted in Robotics](https://inventorsdigest.com/rooted-in-robotics) - Nationally acclaimed scientist, researcher, AI expert Ayanna Howard honored with USPTO trading card
- [White House Honors America’s Best](https://inventorsdigest.com/white-house-honors-americas-best) - 25 recipients named for National Medal of Technology and Innovation, National Medal of Science
- [New Acting Director for USPTO](https://inventorsdigest.com/new-acting-director-for-uspto) - IP veteran and litigator Coke Morgan Stewart sworn in 1 minute after Trump takes office BY GENE QUINN
- [Are You a Facebook Fit?](https://inventorsdigest.com/are-you-a-facebook-fit) - Your guide to the benefits, types, strategies and best practices of the platform’s advertising
- [An Inventor’s Vision](https://inventorsdigest.com/an-inventors-vision) - Jeff Roy’s hands-on approach to core innovation tenets shapes the mission of FluidityIQ
- [AI-Powered Patent Searches](https://inventorsdigest.com/ai-powered-patent-searches) - More opportunity for inventors, and less of an obstacle
- [Rats Experiment](https://inventorsdigest.com/rats-experiment) - In the 1975 World Series 50 years ago, an epic meeting of innovation and serendipity changed TV sports forever
- [VIBESPIN](https://inventorsdigest.com/bright-ideas-vibespin) - VIBESPIN combines the classic music playing experience of vinyl records with Bluetooth functionality in a compact and retro vintage style.
- [A Cosmetic Made From Peanuts](https://inventorsdigest.com/a-cosmetic-made-from-peanuts) - 100 Years Ago, George Washington Carver Received a Patent for a ‘Vanishing Cream’
- [Major Publishers Sue Google](https://inventorsdigest.com/eye-on-washington-major-publishers-sue-google) - Search engine accused of aiding infringement by promoting pirate sites, ignoring complaints BY EILEEN McDERMOTT
- [Watch Your Language](https://inventorsdigest.com/watch-your-language) - A catchy name or slogan can enhance marketing, branding and sales—but also confuse and offend BY WILLIAM SEIDEL
- [5 for ’25](https://inventorsdigest.com/5-for-25) - These new products feature the best in resin printing, IoT development boards, high-resolution scanning, laser cutting and electronics kits.
- [News Flash](https://inventorsdigest.com/news-flash) - Daniel Modricker was appointed director of the USPTO’s Northern New England Community Outreach Office
- [100 Strong](https://inventorsdigest.com/100-strong) - Patent and Trademark Resource Center Program reaches historic milestone
- [A Climate of Positive Change](https://inventorsdigest.com/a-climate-of-positive-change) - USPTO honors global energy innovators with first Trademarks for Humanity awards, Patents for Humanity winners
- [Rabbit R1](https://inventorsdigest.com/bright-ideas-rabbit-r1) - PORTABLE, VOICE-COMMAND PERSONAL ASSISTANT
- [Understanding Improvement Patents](https://inventorsdigest.com/inventing-101-understanding-improvement-patents) - With an improvement patent, you add improvements to a previously patented invention. If you are not the owner of the previous patent, you might be able to get a patent but not be able to sell the product related to the patent because you would be infringing on the original patent.
- [Hope for a Little Miracle](https://inventorsdigest.com/ip-market-hope-for-a-little-miracle) - RESTORE Act’s main difference from previous pro-patent bills: Bicameral support BY LOUIS CARBONNEAU
- [Enabling in a Good Way](https://inventorsdigest.com/inventors-spotlight-enablement-tech) - A gaming controller for wheelchairs. A headset for blind people. A tongue-activated device controller. Enablement tech is emerging.
- [Scared Into Action](https://inventorsdigest.com/inventor-spotlight-scared-into-action) - Toddler’s near-fatal choking experience inspires mom to invent tool to aid in CPR process. BY EDITH G. TOLCHIN
- [Freedom for Fido](https://inventorsdigest.com/inventors-spotlight-freedom-for-fido) - Woman’s 4-in-1 device gives owners control and dogs the ability to roam and play. BY EDITH G. TOLCHIN
- [Pedorthics Purpose](https://inventorsdigest.com/inventors-spotlight-pedorthics-purpose) - Woman’s extra-wide shoe line provides comfort with style for people with swelling issues. BY EDITH G. TOLCHIN
- [Holidays with Pull](https://inventorsdigest.com/inventors-spotlight-holidays-with-pull) - Here’s a new product to help glam up those often-boring kitchen cabinet handles. BY EDITH G. TOLCHIN
- [Getting the Funk Off](https://inventorsdigest.com/inventors-spotlight-getting-the-funk-off) - Serial entrepreneur, marketer combine to invent teeth touch-ups on the go BY EDITH G. TOLCHIN
- [Change is in the Air](https://inventorsdigest.com/inventors-spotlight-change-is-in-the-air) - Modify a houseplant’s genetics to help change the air in our homes for the better.
- [Turning Over the Reins](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-turning-over-the-reigns) - Kathi Vidal thanks USPTO colleagues for accomplishments during her tenure as director
- [Public Engagement Chief Named](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-public-engagement-chief-named) - NEWS FLASH PHOTO BY MICHAEL CONNOR/USPTO Nancy U. Kamei has been appointed the USPTO’s first chief public engagement officer and director of its Office of Public Engagement (OPE). Launched in spring 2024, the OPE advances the USPTO’s mission of increasing participation in the innovation ecosystem by consolidating many of the agency’s outreach, education, and customer
- [News Flash](https://inventorsdigest.com/news-flash-2) - USPTO, NASA AGREEMENT: The Department of Commerce’s U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) have announced a collaboration via a memorandum of understanding to promote and advance innovation through technology transfer and commercialization opportunities. Under the agreement, the USPTO and STMD will issue
- [A New Tabletop Game World](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-thanksgiving-innovation-served-well-2) - USPTO-led discussion highlights American games’ colorful history while providing guidance on IP and challenges for inventors The joy of opening a lovingly wrapped game of Monopoly or Scrabble is an enduring holiday memory. It’s also an ongoing constant—part of a robust tabletop games market that offers great rewards and risks for inventors. According to Allied
- [Trademark Boot Camp Returns](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-trademark-boot-camp-returns) - What’s Next The popular Trademark Basics Boot Camp returns on January 7—a free, virtual USPTO event series that provides a comprehensive overview of the process for federal trademark registration and maintaining a federal trademark. The boot camp is offered regularly throughout the year. The series covers one module weekly for eight weeks, each focusing on
- [Goal: More Innovation Accessibility](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-more-innovation-accessibility) - First National Disability Leadership Summit echoes inspirational stories from USPTO BY DERRICK BRENT The USPTO is here to help all creators transform their innovative ideas into products and services that benefit society and grow the U.S. economy. Our focus on inclusive innovation is to help innovators from all backgrounds, including the 29 percent of American
- [Overseeing a Global Vision](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-overseeing-a-global-vision) - JOURNEYS OF INNOVATION J. Kevin White brings practical solutions to communities that lack basic eye health care BY WHITNEY PANDIL-EATON Accompanied by his wife, Rebecca, and two teenage sons, military veteran and inventor Kevin White traveled some 7,000 miles by plane from Maryland to Namibia and then drove hours more through the rugged, baked Namib
- [What’s Next in IP?](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-whats-next-in-ip) - LEARN ABOUT IP BASICS: Learn about patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets from USPTO experts in the free online program “Intellectual Property Basics and Helpful Resources,” November 7 and December 5 from noon to 1:30 ET. Also discover potential ways to protect your innovation as you move from idea to product. The USPTO’s Midwest Elijah
- [A Brilliant Touch](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-a-brilliant-touch) - Blinded by a childhood accident, Ralph Teetor went on to a legendary career in automotive engineering and inventing that included cruise control BY MATT GRAHAM Photo courtesy of Jack Teetor Under the pale light of the moon they worked: racing from one end of the machine to the other, tightening bolts, checking belt tensions, and
- [Learn From Invention Ambassadors](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-learn-from-invention-ambassadors) - NEWS FLASH The National Academy of Inventors (NAI) has announced the launch of its newest program, Invention Ambassadors, created in partnership with the USPTO. The program is composed of accomplished inventors, innovators, entrepreneurs, and commercialization experts who will take part in speaking engagements across the nation. Through these engagements, the NAI Invention Ambassadors aim to
- [PTRCs Bring Help to You](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-ptrcs-bring-help-to-you) - Slew of newly opening Patent and Trademark Resource Centers help innovators protect their IP. For inventors and entrepreneurs who cannot travel to get help in the early stages of protecting their intellectual property (IP), the USPTO is coming to you. In the past year, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the
- [Thanksgiving Innovation, Served Well](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-thanksgiving-innovation-served-well) - USPTO, Cade Museum for Creativity & Invention team up for invention education activities highlighting mealtime delights Have you ever used a potato peeler to whip some spuds into a classic side dish? How about a cooking rack to ensure the perfect roast on your chosen bird? If so, you have the hard work of inventors
- [Making Storytelling Work for You](https://inventorsdigest.com/social-hour-making-storytelling-work-for-you) - Part 1 of 2 Relating your actions can help inspire others to action BY ELIZABETH BREEDLOVE In today’s digital age, where attention spans are short and competition for visibility fierce, the art of storytelling has emerged as a powerful tool in social media marketing. For inventors and entrepreneurs, mastering storytelling can be the key to
- [Run From Mythinformation](https://inventorsdigest.com/think-marketing-run-from-mythinformation) - Bad decisions by inventors and entrepreneurs are often due to wrong assumptions BY WILLIAM SEIDEL At the root of all failure is one common denominator: bad decisions. Bad decisions come from bad information. And bad information comes from assumptions, free advice and no knowledge of the product, business or customer. You can’t make the right
- [Science That Sticks](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-science-that-sticks) - Audrey Sherman recently became a division scientist in medical disciplines at Solventum, where she creates new technology for cutting-edge health care products. Before that, she held a similar position at 3M until 2016, a history-making 38 year span at the American multinational conglomerate.
- [Rocky Mountain Highs](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-rocky-mountain-highs) - The Rocky Mountain Office serves Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. Inventors in this region have received more than 126,000 patents in the past ten years. Women inventors were named on 21 percent of the total patents, compared to about 13 percent for the United States as a whole.
- [New TTAB functionality](https://inventorsdigest.com/new-ttab-functionality) - New TTAB functionality: As part of the USPTO’s efforts to modernize its systems and improve customer experience, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) Center open beta has been launched for filing notices of opposition. An opposition is a TTAB proceeding in which a party may challenge the registration of a trademark.
- [Ma Wins Prestigious U.S. Award](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-ma-wins-prestigious-us-award) - Ma’s honor recognizes his leadership and dedication in advancing the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in the patent examination process. He and his team have also helped shape USPTO policies to address AI’s evolving role in intellectual property and innovation.
- [A Google ‘Bulldoze’?](https://inventorsdigest.com/eye-on-washington-a-google-bulldoze) - Gemini Data, Inc., an AI software company, has sued Google, LLC in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California for trademark infringement, alleging that the rebranding of Google’s AI chatbot from BARD to GEMINI represents a “calculated decision to bulldoze over Gemini Data’s exclusive rights without hesitation.”
- [At the Heart of Invention](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-at-the-heart-of-innovatio) - She was speaking at the National Summer Teacher Institute, an educational program run by the USPTO. The annual program offers teachers the opportunity to learn more about invention and intellectual property, knowledge they can bring back to the classroom.
- [BOOyah!](https://inventorsdigest.com/youur-uspto) - Every October, the USPTO dives into the patent and trademark archives to find some eerie, spooky, and haunting examples of creepy IP, or intellectual property. This monthlong campaign--known as #CreepyIP--began in 2011 as a fun way to educate the public about the importance of intellectual property by embracing the Halloween spirit.
- [Let’s Make a Deal](https://inventorsdigest.com/meant-to-invent-lets-make-a-deal) - Key factors in a licensing agreement may vary in importance, depending on the inventor and situation. No one can claim definitively what should be the most important factor in a licensing agreement.
- [4 at the Core](https://inventorsdigest.com/meant-to-invent-4-at-the-core) - I have seen inventors with amazing products that never made it to market. The No. 1 reason is that they gave up too soon. Besides a few obvious character traits, these others are consistent in successful inventors.
- [Pitching to a New Industry](https://inventorsdigest.com/meant-to-invent-pitching-to-a-new-industry) - Is it worth the time? What has worked before? What will have to change? I look into factors such as demand, market size, manufacturability, cost and trends. I also do an extra layer of evaluation.
- [Licensing Concepts Faster](https://inventorsdigest.com/meant-to-invent-licensing-concepts-faster) - I have experienced an array of timelines when pitching and licensing new concepts—from licensing an item to the first person I pitched it to, to licensing a concept within a month of pitching to dozens of companies, all the way to licensing a product after pitching it for a couple of years, and everything in-between.
- [Mistakes in Building Relationships](https://inventorsdigest.com/meant-to-invent-mistakes-in-building-relationships) - When working with companies and other inventors, avoid these common errors. Don’t send unsolicited marketing materials—whether dealing with companies or other inventors.
- [The Best-Laid Flight Plans](https://inventorsdigest.com/meant-to-invent-the-best-laid-flight-plans) - Whether inventing, manufacturing, selling your product yourself or inventing and licensing your invention to another company, it will need to go through many steps and/or iterations.
- [The Path to Easy Sales](https://inventorsdigest.com/inventing-101-the-path-to-easy-sales) - Before investing too much money in an invention, it pays to consider how easy it will be to sell. Let’s look at this from two major themes—priorities for customers, and your ability to get and retain them through entry points.
- [Target Market Tutorial](https://inventorsdigest.com/inventing-101-target-market-tutorial) - Use these simple steps and questions to make the right contacts. Explore our tips for inventors to start conversations with potential contacts in their target market.
- [Finding Opportunities](https://inventorsdigest.com/inventing-101-finding-opportunities) - Even in winning categories, some products are better than others. Here are some ways to help you to a winning formula. These principles apply across the board—whether you are looking to produce your own product, license it to a manufacturer, or strike a joint venture deal of some kind.
- [Think Like a Licensee](https://inventorsdigest.com/inventing-101-think-like-a-licensee) - Companies always want a margin of at least 50 percent. You need to have a good grasp of the percentage of the retail price the company receives to address this issue. Understand and leverage these 4 main deal-making factors for your potential partners.
- [Your Profit Formula](https://inventorsdigest.com/inventing-101-your-profit-formula) - As a general rule, a product needs to be manufactured for 25 percent of its expected price to consumers to make money. This is due to distribution and selling costs. That means that your manufacturing costs must be less than 50 cents if your product’s retail price is $2.
- [An ‘EFF’ for Honesty](https://inventorsdigest.com/eye-on-washington-an-eff-for-honesty) - Efforts by high-tech companies to undermine both the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act of 2023 and the Promoting and Respecting Economically Vital American Innovation Leadership Act ramped up in mid-March, via a joint letter sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee by a number of tech industry organizations and a campaign launched by the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
- [Uncertain Victory?](https://inventorsdigest.com/eye-on-washington-uncertain-victory) - SCOTUS’ ruling came in its May 9 decision on Warner Chappell Music v. Nealy, a case that asks whether a copyright plaintiff can recover damages for acts that allegedly occurred more than three years before the filing of a lawsuit.
- [Patent, Trademark Backlog](https://inventorsdigest.com/eye-on-washington-patent-trademark-backlog) - U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Director Kathi Vidal published a director’s blog post July 11 addressing the office’s current backlog of patent and trademark applications, which the latest USPTO data show to be 785,387 unexamined applications/25.6 months total pendency for patents and 14.5 months total pendency for trademarks.
- [Action on Infringement](https://inventorsdigest.com/eye-on-washington-action-on-infringement) - The Realizing Engineering, Science, and Technology Opportunities by Restoring Exclusive (RESTORE) Patent Rights Act of 2024 would essentially abrogate the 2006 Supreme Court ruling in eBay v. MercExchange, a case that many patent owners argue has played a key role in weakening the value of patents.
- [Patent Transactions Up, But ...](https://inventorsdigest.com/ip-market-patent-transactions-up-but) - Despite the significant economic challenges and geopolitical tensions throughout 2023, the year concluded on a positive note with an increase in patent transactions. This upturn in activity within the patent secondary market coincided with a growing interest among companies to invest in research and development, particularly in the technology sector.
- [Goosing the Greed](https://inventorsdigest.com/ip-market-goosing-the-greed) - We at Tangible IP get bombarded every day by inventors who want us to help them sell their one or two patents and expects to receive “several millions” (sometimes even billions) from their worthy invention, based primarily on reading some headline about a large patent verdict and thinking, naturally, “Why not me?”
- [And the Winner Is ... ](https://inventorsdigest.com/ip-market-and-the-winner-is) - As our readers know, one of Tangible IP’s criteria for assessing the health of the patent market is tied to large verdict awards that tend to make headlines and grab attention in the boardrooms. The past couple months provided its share of those, which should help long term in maintaining—if not increasing—patent valuations.
- [Goodwill Attempt Backfires](https://inventorsdigest.com/ip-market-goodwill-attempt-backfires) - Under pressure to fight counterfeit products on its online platform and those accused of violating third-party patents, Amazon created its APEX program. It’s sort of an intramural arbitration process whereby someone claiming its patents were being infringed upon by an article sold on the Amazon website could—for a $4,000 fee—file a complaint and be bound by the final decision of the patent specialist retained by Amazon.
- [‘Shameless’ War on ITC ](https://inventorsdigest.com/ip-market-shameless-war-on-itc) - We recently noted the large number of significant patent verdict awards of 2024. Although those are usually a positive indicator of the health of the patent market because they may instill some fear in serial infringers, the reality is, they have their limit—the same way a blue-collar worker winning the Powerball does not mean the middle class is suddenly looking to brighter prospects.
- [Your USPTO: Expanding Our Service Footprint](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-expanding-our-service-footprint) - Since I began my tenure over two years ago, the USPTO has worked feverishly to increase American innovation and entrepreneurship. As part of our efforts, we have expanded our footprint so we can better serve every community across the nation.
- [Going Big at the Big Show](https://inventorsdigest.com/prototyping-going-big-at-the-big-show) - The last time I attended the Consumer Electronics Show—the most popular and widely attended tech event in America—was two years ago. It was ravaged by last-minute pullouts by big tech companies due to COVID concerns.
- [Fantasy Island](https://inventorsdigest.com/prototyping-fantasy-island) - Grenada innovation workshop was memorable for beautiful innovation, people and scenery. Once the sample projects were completed, teams had the afternoon to use the parts to build their own prototypes and work on their digital prototypes.
- [We Have Liftoff!](https://inventorsdigest.com/prototyping-we-have-liftoff) - This can be a nervy time for the inventor: the real test of whether the device can stand on its own in the marketplace, and whether people want to buy it. Because the launch has such high consequences, you must take the utmost care in preparation to ensure you have everything right.
- [Ouch! That One Stung](https://inventorsdigest.com/prototyping-ouch-that-one-stung) - A key part of success when crowdfunding is to have a beautiful working prototype with high-quality digital assets (photos and videos). Consider these strategies for launching a product so it does not meet the same fate as the Hornet.
- [Shopping Channels? Don’t Laugh](https://inventorsdigest.com/prototyping-shopping-channels-dont-laugh) - Inventors and product designers can learn from home shopping’s focus on relatability, tone, and creating an aura of scarcity. Corny and predictable presentations work—so as millions pay, pay attention.
- [Satellite IoT 101](https://inventorsdigest.com/prototyping-satellite-iot-101) - The Achilles’ heel of IoT is that it only works in places that have infrastructure to move data to the cloud. WiFi and ethernet work great inside of buildings, and cellular and LoRa help in remote areas, but all are at the mercy of how much coverage is available.
- [Bravado is Not an Option](https://inventorsdigest.com/think-marketing-bravado-is-not-an-option) - On one hand, confidence in leadership can be so high that a backup plan is not necessary. It embodies a mind-set of unwavering commitment to succeed. On the other hand, it is naïve, unprepared and shows an unwillingness to change.
- [The Inventrepreneur](https://inventorsdigest.com/think-marketing-the-inventrepreneur) - A small, unknown percentage of inventors are entrepreneurial, and a small, unknown percentage of entrepreneurs are inventive. All traits, talents and driving forces of the inventor and entrepreneur are combined. Hence, the Inventrepreneur.
- [Evolutionary Vs. Revolutionary](https://inventorsdigest.com/think-marketing-evolutionary-vs-revolutionary) - Evolutionary and revolutionary product development define how companies improve existing products, introduce new products and innovate. Both approaches have their advantages and drawbacks.
- [Know The Affordability Barrier](https://inventorsdigest.com/think-marketing-know-the-affordability-barrier) - This fine line can mean the difference between no sales and big ones. Most products fail in testing, and that is exactly why it is done.
- [Creating Careful Chaos](https://inventorsdigest.com/think-marketing-creating-careful-choas) - Innovation isn’t invention; it’s often a necessary, welcome change in the way we do things. The strategy must balance the chaos of innovation with the stability of conformity. This is the most efficient, cost-effective path to successfully launch an innovative product.
- [Market Research, or Marketing Research?](https://inventorsdigest.com/think-marketing-market-research-or-marketing-research) - Knowing the difference is crucial for identifying your market and acting on it. Market research has a limited scope, studying only market and consumer behavior. Marketing research has a wide scope, studying the entire marketing process as well as the market itself.
- [The Sell Sheet That Works](https://inventorsdigest.com/lander-zone-the-sell-sheet-that-works) - You must have a sell sheet to license your invention. Or, if you intend to produce rather than licensing, you’ll have to convince skeptical catalogers, internet sellers and distributors they can make a profit marketing your product.
- [Designing for a Patent](https://inventorsdigest.com/lander-zone-designing-for-a-patent) - Heed these 5 main principles, with your prospective licensee’s preferences also in mind. A negative patent search—that is, finding nothing like your invention—is not reliable.
- [A Tangled Lesson for All](https://inventorsdigest.com/lander-zone-a-tangled-lesson-for-all) - Woman’s inventing experience reveals production, design and expense challenges. After your first year or two, when sales appear to be at their peak, approach manufacturers who have a product line in which your product would fit.
- [Utility Patent Options, Alternatives](https://inventorsdigest.com/lander-zone-utility-patent-options-alternatives) - Many of the patent rules are subtle and cause amateurs (including me) to lose a large chunk of the patent’s strength and value if we prepare a patent on our own.
- [And Here’s the Pitch (Letter)](https://inventorsdigest.com/lander-zone-and-heres-the-pitch-letter) - Most people assume a patent covers the entire item, whereas it may only cover a fraction of the features. Tips on an old-school approach to landing a licensee for your invention.
- [Patent Search Options](https://inventorsdigest.com/lander-zone-patent-search-options) - If you do your own patent search without much experience, you probably will not find the prior art the patent examiner will find during searching. This will result in the rejection of your patent application if you file it on your own.
- [Podcasting for Inventors](https://inventorsdigest.com/social-hour-podcasting-for-inventors) - Sharing the journey of how an invention came to be, the challenges faced throughout the development process, and triumphs achieved create a powerful connection with listeners.
- [Your Strategy Launchpad](https://inventorsdigest.com/social-hour-your-strategy-launchpad) - As innovative products continue to emerge, what are some of the ways for inventors to reach a wider audience for effectively launching their inventions?
- [Get Automated, Save Time](https://inventorsdigest.com/social-hour-get-automated-save-time) - Marketing sometimes inadvertently takes a back seat to the excitement of creating a groundbreaking product. Because many of us have limited time and resources to devote to all aspects of product development, marketing efforts can become sporadic or inconsistent, hindering an invention’s potential success.
- [Under the Influence](https://inventorsdigest.com/social-hour-under-the-influence) - As the rise of social media as part of a cohesive digital marketing strategy creates opportunities for inventors and entrepreneurs to showcase innovative products online, one of the most effective tactics is collaborating with social media influencers.
- [Safety in Numbers](https://inventorsdigest.com/social-hour-safety-in-numbers) - LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network, provides many opportunities for inventors and entrepreneurs to find new ways to refine ideas, gain feedback and network. LinkedIn Groups can enhance this.
- [Going Communal on Facebook](https://inventorsdigest.com/social-hour-going-communal-on-facebook) - Last month, this column covered using LinkedIn Groups to share and improve your invention. But Facebook, with its massive user base and diverse set of tools, also offers fertile ground for inventors and entrepreneurs to build and nurture a dedicated following.
- [Skyted](https://inventorsdigest.com/bright-ideas-skyted) - In cooperation with Airbus, ONERA and ESA (European Space Agency), Skyted Silent Mask was designed to use jet engine-dampening technology to muffle the wearer’s voice by up to 80 percent in crowded spaces. Your voice is absorbed and doesn’t go out, and external environment doesn’t come in while the wearer has open-air ventilation.
- [Your USPTO: Trading Card No. 2 - Thomas Edison](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-thomas-edison) - Perhaps the best-known inventor of all time, Thomas Edison was also charismatic and fun.
- [LaserPecker LP4](https://inventorsdigest.com/bright-ideas-laserpecker-lp4) - Billed as the world's first dual-laser engraver for almost all materials, this portable device can create meaningful artworks, start small businesses and bring artisan ideas to life.
- [YSMART MQ5](https://inventorsdigest.com/bright-ideas-ysmart-mq5) - Instead of twisting your flashlight to turn it on and off, with the YSMART MQ5 you just pull it off your keychain. The magnetic quick-release feature turns on the flashlight immediately.
- [Audien Atom 2](https://inventorsdigest.com/bright-ideas-audien-atom-2) - One of the company’s seven assistive-hearing device models to customers online, Audien Atom 2 upgrades the original Audien Atom with an even smaller size.
- [MOFT Snap Flow](https://inventorsdigest.com/bright-ideas-moft-snap-flow) - MOFT calls itself “a minimalist focus tool with pen, paper, organizer, and stand to capture ideas” that fits on the back of your phone without your having to open it.
- [Your USPTO: News Flash September 2024](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-news-flash-september-2024) - The USPTO issued a guidance update on patent subject matter eligibility to address innovation in key emerging technologies, including in artificial intelligence (AI). This will assist USPTO personnel and stakeholders in determining subject matter eligibility under patent law of AI inventions. The update builds on previous guidance.
- [Your USPTO: Invention-Con 2024](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-invention-con-2024) - USPTO’s signature event inspires with personal, practical advice for improving inventors’ intellectual property potential. While some of America’s most successful inventors and intellectual property (IP) experts gathered to share their experiences and expertise at the USPTO’s annual showcase event, Christie Thoene talked about a hunger intended to whet our appetites.
- [Your USPTO: Addressing an Application Backlog](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-addressing-an-application-backlog) - Regarding trademarks, during the pandemic more people started their own companies, launched new products, increased cross-border e-commerce, and filed trademark applications to improve their brand protection. That led to unprecedented application levels in fiscal years 2020 and 2021.
- [Your USPTO: Rasheed Named Chief Solicitor for IP Law](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-rasheed-named-chief-solicitor-for-ip-law) - The Office of the Solicitor serves as legal counsel to the USPTO on intellectual property law and works in collaboration with the Department of Commerce on interagency intellectual property law matters, as well as with the Department of Justice in advocacy before all U.S. courts.
- [Your USPTO: Fueling the Force of Innovation](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-fueling-the-force-of-innovation) - Inclusive innovation is a force that is crucial for building a better world. The NAI event, held June 16-18 in Raleigh, North Carolina, showcased a member organization comprising U.S. and international universities and governmental and nonprofit research institutes, with over 4,000 individual inventor members and Fellows spanning more than 250 institutions worldwide.
- [Your USPTO: Bringing Light for All](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-bringing-light-for-all) - The clip-clop of horseshoes and the slow creaking of carriage wheels on the tarmacadam streets of London welcomed two weary American travelers after more than one month at sea on New Year’s Day, 1882. Accompanied by his wife, 33-year-old Lewis Latimer arrived with a daunting task before him: the electrified illumination of a city famous for its fog.
- [Your USPTO: News Flash July 2024](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-news-flash-july-2024) - The USPTO granted its 12 millionth utility patent on June 4. “Labeled Nucleotide Analogs, Reaction Mixtures, and Methods and Systems for Sequencing,” awarded to Pacific Bioscience in Menlo Park, California, involves a chemical reagent for use in DNA sequencing that produces faster and more accurate results.
- [Your USPTO: Southern Hospitality](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-southern-hospitality) - For 10 years, former and current staff from the USPTO’s Intellectual Property (IP) Attaché offices have visited businesses, inventor support organizations, and legal representatives to hear the concerns of stakeholders and educate them about IP. During recent visits to Orlando and Atlanta, the attachés continued the tradition, presenting a world of possibilities and information to local innovators exploring international IP protection.
- [Your USPTO: Steeped in Excellence](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-steeped-in-excellence) - Dr. Charles Drew pioneered blood preservation and storage while advocating for more opportunities for Black physicians. Carrying a tray of bright red geraniums, Dr. Charles Richard Drew led his daughter to the backyard of their three-story house on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C., where a circular arrangement of colorful blooms awaited them.
- [Your USPTO: News Flash June 2024](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-news-flash-june-2024) - The USPTO has outlined a comprehensive strategic approach for the federal government, academic institutions, and private industry to share and implement best practices that inspire and support a diverse population of problem-solvers.
- [Your USPTO: Timeless Impacts](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-timeless-impacts) - In her National Inventors Hall of Fame® acceptance speech, Andrea Goldsmith honored the legacy of past inductees. Shankar Balasubramanian lauded the USPTO and its current, ongoing mission to encourage and enable intellectual property protection, particularly patents. And Asad Madni thanked future generations for inventions and innovation that will further transform the world.
- [Your USPTO: District of Determination](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-district-of-determination) - The headquarters of Riggs Bank, so prominent it was referred to as the “Bank of Presidents,” resided down the street. Patrons could easily stroll through Lafayette Square, attend a service at St. John’s Episcopal Church, or—given the proper invitation —enjoy a conversation with pre-eminent intellectuals and community leaders at the Cosmos Club, a private social venue for science enthusiasts.
- [Your USPTO: What's Next in May 2024](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-whats-next-may-2024) - Federal Trademark Searching: Get an overview of the fundamental mechanics of using the USPTO’s trademark search system, May 10 from 3 to 4 p.m. ET. The free webinar is geared toward new users and anyone interested in conducting basic searches.
- [Your USPTO: Establishing the New Fit](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-establishing-the-new-fit) - In 1979, Lisa Lindahl, Hinda Miller, and Polly Smith received U.S. Patent No. 4,174,717 for the athletic brassiere, or “Jogbra.” More than 40 years after their invention, they gathered in the National Inventors Hall of Fame Museum in Alexandria, Virginia, to discuss their experiences as pioneers in the women’s fitness industry and to reminisce about their days as young friends and creators.
- [Your USPTO: News Flash - Did You Know?](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-news-flash-did-you-know) - USPTO IP Champions educate communities on the importance of IP protections such as patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets to innovation. They support local educators and are available to discuss important IP concepts, share our free online resources, and empower the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs.
- [Your USPTO: Making History](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-making-history) - HBCUs have played a crucial role in advancing intergenerational economic mobility for Black families and communities throughout generations. Additionally, HBCUs have been instrumental in fostering innovation and intellectual property (IP) development. A late 2021 report by ThePlug said HBCUs accounted for almost 400 U.S. patents.
- [Your USPTO: Burgers With ‘The Sun Queen’](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-burgers-with-the-sun) - Hungarian-born Maria Telkes was an energetic, accessible, determined pioneer for solar energy who was underappreciated. With a prism-shaped aluminum box tucked under her arm, 54-year-old scientist Maria Telkes walked across the campus of New York University toward a group of faculty members and students who gathered under the midday sun.
- [Your USPTO: News Flash - April 2024](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-news-flash-april-2024) - Three Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) were designated as Patent and Trademark Resource Centers (PTRCs) in 2023, and the USPTO plans to add more. The three are the John B. Cade Library at Southern University and A&M College, John B. Coleman Library at Prairie View A&M University, and Miller F. Whittaker Library at South Carolina State University. Howard University’s Founders Library was designated a PTRC in 1986.
- [Your USPTO: Lunch and a Historic Launch](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-lunch-and-a-historic-launch) - The Patent Pro Bono Program’s “Pathways to Inclusive Innovation” event, April 12 at Emory University School of Law in Atlanta, has roots that extend 14 years and about 1,100 miles to the north. A 2010 lunch in Minneapolis between two renowned patent professionals sparked food for thought that eventually became an invaluable and historically significant resource for financially challenged inventors.
- [Your USPTO: LEAP Forward, With PTAB’s Help](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-leap-forward-with-ptabs-help) - We have done many things at the USPTO to push those doors of opportunity wide open, but I want to highlight a few in particular that I need your help in sharing with others. Collectively, they make access to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) easier and more transparent than ever, for both legal practitioners and the inventors they represent.
- [Your USPTO: Honor Our Greatest](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-honor-our-greatest) - The NMTI medal is awarded to individuals, teams (up to four individuals), and companies or divisions of companies for their outstanding contributions to the nation. The medal recognizes American innovators whose vision, intellect, creativity, and determination have strengthened America’s economy and improved our quality of life.
- [Your USPTO: Famed 15](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-famed-15) - The 2024 class of the National Inventors Hall of Fame (NIHF) literally ranges from A to Z—with a similarly broad scope of inventors and their accomplishments. Signature accomplishments in the fields of cancer-fighting therapy, DNA sequencing, wireless networking, automotive safety, and even theatrical special effects are among those highlighted with this year’s inductees.
- [Your USPTO: Protecting Your IP in China](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-potecting-your-ip-in-china) - U.S. businesses operating in China regularly cite insufficient protection and enforcement of IP as a top concern, and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has placed China on its “priority watch” list for over a decade, detailing a long list of IP concerns reported by U.S. businesses operating in China.
- [Your USPTO: Eastern Regional Outreach Office](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-eastern-regional-outreach-office) - The USPTO’s Eastern Regional Outreach Office is based in the Alexandria, Virginia, headquarters of the USPTO. It serves Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Florida, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia.
- [Your USPTO: Robert Pelham: Inventor, Civil and Public Servant](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-robert-pelham-inventor-civil-and-public-servant) - Pelham was born in Petersburg, Virginia in 1859, but his family moved to Detroit shortly after his birth. His parents sought more educational opportunities for their children than allowed by the strict literacy laws for African Americans in pre-Civil War Virginia.
- [Your USPTO: Journeys of Innovation - The Cactus Chemist](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-journeys-of-innovation-the-cactus-chemist) - The folklore wisdom of the owl and the hardy but elegantly designed cactus plant represent the tapestry of her life and career. They are also the embodiment of two fundamental forces that have guided her life and career: her mother, Acrelia Alcantar, and her grandmother, Balbina Zamora.
- [Your USPTO: Eureka! A Great Match](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-eureka-a-great-match) - America’s largest technology trade show, with more than 135,000 attendees, 4,300 exhibiting companies, and over 1,400 startups, also hosted a fireside chat, “Protecting America’s Best Ideas: A Conversation with USPTO Director Kathi Vidal,” on January 9 and an illuminating hour-long USPTO panel, “Empowering Women’s Entrepreneurship: Leading Women Leading Change,” on January 11.
- [Your USPTO: We Have Liftoff—Twice!](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-we-have-liftoff-twice) - After eight months of input from stakeholders, the USPTO trademark search system launched on November 30. The new system provides a more stable search environment with a simplified search interface that also supports complex searching for advanced users.
- [Your USPTO: Texas Regional Office, Lone Star Destination](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-texas-regional-office) - Located in the Terminal Annex Federal Building downtown, the Texas Regional Office serves Texas, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. It opened on Nov. 9, 2015—the same year “The Lone Star State” was made the official state nickname for Texas.
- [Your USPTO: New Offices for Atlanta, New Hampshire](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-new-offices-for-atlanta-new-hampshire) - The USPTO will open a new regional office in the Atlanta, Georgia, metropolitan area serving innovators in the Southeast region, and a new community outreach office in Strafford County, New Hampshire, serving innovators in the New England region.
- [Your USPTO: A Salute to Selfless Service](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-a-salute-to-selfless-service) - The ’23 inductees—honored at a black-tie gala at The Anthem in Washington, D.C., on October 26—included four Nobel Prize winners and a National Medal of Technology and Innovation winner, the latter the nation’s highest award for technological achievement. But Dr. Rory Cooper, the NMTI honoree, said in his NIHF acceptance speech that all Hall members are interwoven by an uncommonly noble common thread.
- [Your USPTO: What Prior Art is, and Why it Matters](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-what-prior-art-is-and-why-it-matters) - During the patent examination process, patent applicants have a duty to disclose known prior art to the examiner. Therefore, it is important that the applicant be aware of the following categories of prior art and understand the considerations that go into determining whether a certain disclosure qualifies as prior art.
- [Your USPTO: More Youth Getting ‘Real’](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-more-youth-getting-real) - As America’s Innovation Agency, the USPTO is working to protect brands: those owned by individuals and startups, as well as ones known around the world. The USPTO is working to change the narrative around purchasing counterfeit products and informing consumers about the dangers and consequences of purchasing counterfeit goods.
- [Your USPTO: Winning With the PTAB](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-winning-with-the-ptab) - Judges at the USPTO’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) sit in three-judge panels and decide every case based on the applicable law and specific facts in the record. They need to explain their reasoning in a written decision, stating why the prevailing party won the case.
- [Your USPTO: The Search for Lost X-patents](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-the-search-for-lost-x-patents) - In December 1836, a catastrophic fire at the United States Patent Office destroyed records of American innovation kept since the earliest days of the Republic. We call patents from this era (1790-1836) “X-patents” —not because they’re shrouded in mystery (although they are), but because they predate the numbering system now in use.
- [Your USPTO: News Flash October 2022](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-news-flash-october-2022) - EquIP HQ is a new, web-based portal with free educational resources designed for K-12 educators and learners that expand student learning, creativity and innovation through STEM-based lesson plans. The appointment was announced by Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and USPTO Director Kathi Vidal.
- [Your USPTO: About PTAB Decisions](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-anout-ptab-decisions) - Every year, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) issues thousands of decisions from ex parte (for one party) appeals, reexamination appeals, and America Invents Act trial proceedings. Although all decisions handed down by the board are considered “routine,” certain decisions receive the special designation “precedential” or “informative.”
- [Your USPTO: News Flash - September 2022](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-news-flash-september-2022) - Longtime IP professional Derrick Brent is the new deputy undersecretary of commerce for intellectual property and deputy director of the USPTO, effective August 1. The announcement was made by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo and Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Kathi Vidal.
- [Your USPTO: A Palpable Energy](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-a-palpable-energy) - The theme of this year’s three-day USPTO virtual event, held August 10-12, was “Inspiring and redefining the innovative mindset.” From the opening remarks of Inventors Digest publisher and Enventys CEO Louis Foreman to the late-afternoon panel on small business success stories on Day 3, the presentations teemed with inspiration and information.
- [Your USPTO: Inventor Search Assistant Tool ](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-inventor-search-assistant-tool) - It is possible for you to conduct your own prior art search, but it can be difficult. So the USPTO has developed the Inventor Search Assistant Tool (ISAT), a way to help demystify the patent process by sparing you from having to go through a patent search training program.
- [Your USPTO: 2 Tribunals Rule on Patent Validity](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-2-tribunals-rule-on-patent-validity) - The PTAB was formed by the 2011 America Invents Act within the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Administrative patent judges decide cases at the PTAB. They are required to have a technical and legal background and are appointed by the secretary of commerce.
- [Your USPTO: Dive Into the PTAB](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-dive-into-the-ptab) - The PTAB website provides useful information about the Patent Trial and Appeal Board and the types of proceedings it conducts. Becoming acquainted with the website also helps you learn where to find additional information.
- [Your USPTO: He Brought Black Innovation to Light](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-he-brought-black-innovation-to-light) - Born in Lowndes County, Mississippi, in 1857, Baker became a Patent Office employee around 1877. He soon sought to dispel racist claims that his fellow African-Americans could not be inventors. He began a list of such inventors throughout U.S. history.
- [Your USPTO: Defend Your Patent](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-defend-your-patent) - Gathering strongest prior art is key in an AIA trial proceeding Your issued patent may mean more to you than adding tangible and intangible value for your invention, or as a source of great pride. It may be crucial for your financial livelihood. So if you find an entity is challenging your patent’s claims before
- [Your USPTO: The Umbrella Pops Up](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-the-umbrella-pops-up) - Through the centuries, the umbrella morphed into a fashion statement that was also associated with decorum. Rankine wrote that during the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644), there was a system of umbrella etiquette at court, much like fan etiquette, with different meanings for different colors and positions.
- [Your USPTO: Patent Public Searches, Simplified](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-patent-public-searches-simplified) - The USPTO’s new Patent Public Search function, a recently launched, cloud-based platform, is four tools in one. It combines the capabilities of these existing search tools scheduled to be retired in September 2022: Public-Examiner’s Automated Search Tool (PubEAST), Public-Web-based Examiner’s Search Tool (PubWEST), Patent Full-Text and Image Database (PatFT), and Patent Application Full-Text and Image Database (AppFT).
- [Your USPTO: Program Seeks to Expand IP’s Reach](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-program-seeks-to-expand-ips-reach) - Not all inventors and entrepreneurs understand what intellectual property (IP) is, or its essential role in protecting their rights. So the USPTO has initiated a pilot program to ultimately reach people in locations where IP has not traditionally been maximized.
- [Your USPTO: How Plant Patents Sprouted](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-how-plant-patents-sprouted) - Last month on these pages, we told you about the invention of the umbrella that can be protection from April showers. Now we’ll tell you about May flowers—specifically the beginnings of intellectual property protection for new plants and the emergence of plant patents—to celebrate passage of the U.S. Plant Patent Act of 1930, 92 years ago this month.
- [Your USPTO: Pro Bono is Pro-Inventor](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-pro-bono-is-pro-inventor) - This program builds on the success of the USPTO’s Patent Pro Bono Program, which has matched more than 3,400 under-resourced inventors and small businesses with volunteer patent practitioners to file over 1,800 patent applications. This has totaled more than 84,000 hours of free legal help.
- [Your USPTO: A New Era of Inclusion](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-a-new-era-of-inclusion) - Equity is not just a current trend. It is a commitment to empowerment for all innovators that has far-reaching effects for society as a whole. The USPTO’s new inclusive innovation web resource details the importance of this commitment.
- [Your USPTO: Springing Into Action](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-springing-into-action) - As the pandemic persisted through early 2021, April was another healthy month—which required the Office to continue its aggressive campaign to address filing backlogs that started in late 2020. “At first, filings were declining, but since last summer the growth in filings has been unprecedented,” said Gooder.
- [Your USPTO: DOCX Streamlines Patent Filing Process](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-juliette-gordon-low-2) - Now you can file patent application-related documents in this word-processing file format through EFS-Web, Private PAIR, and Patent Center. To improve application quality and efficiency, the USPTO will transition to DOCX for all filers on Jan. 1, 2022. PDFs will continue to be an option; however, a non-DOCX surcharge fee will be effective on that date.
- [Your USPTO: Help for Patent Applicants](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-help-for-patent-applications) - Its Patents Ombudsman Program provides assistance to applicants and attorneys throughout the application process, including during initial filing, patent examination, and post-examination. Applicants receive help when the normal processing has stalled.
- [Your USPTO: Protecting the U.S. Olympics](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-protecting-the-us-olympics) - Intellectual property (IP) is essential in protecting that identity, but there is much the general public does not realize about its importance. IP violations can jeopardize USOPC’s essential sponsorships and licensing relationships.
- [Your USPTO: Invention-Con Goes Young ](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-invention-con-goes-young) - Molly Kocialski, director of the USPTO’s Rocky Mountain Regional Office, reached behind a screen during an interview with Gitanjali on the first day of the USPTO’s recent Invention-Con 2021. She presented her with a beautifully framed display that people three, four, and five times her age would love to have.
- [Your USPTO: Landmark Anniversary](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-landmark-anniversary) - These were all hallmarks of the 2011 Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA), which celebrates its 10th anniversary on September 16. The legislation, signed into law by then-President Obama, included some of the most significant reforms to U.S. patent law since 1836.
- [Your USPTO: The PTAB](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-the-ptab) - The landmark America Invents Act produced a tribunal within the USPTO that was also unprecedented—the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). Formed on Sept. 16, 2012, the PTAB is designed to streamline the process for determining issues of patentability. Its predecessor tribunal was called the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences (BPAI).
- [Your USPTO: Ex parte, Explained](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-ex-parte-explained) - In an ex parte appeal, an applicant seeks to demonstrate to a three-judge panel that the examiner erred in rejecting the claimed invention and that the rejection should be reversed. In this way, the PTAB functions as a quality control check on examination to ensure that examiners make correct patentability decisions.
- [Your USPTO: PTAB Trials](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-ptab-trials) - Given what is at stake for many independent inventors, the notion of going to trial may be daunting. At uspto.gov/patents/ptab/trials, the USPTO breaks down the trials process into categories to make the subject more understandable.
- [Your USPTO: Artful Artifacts ](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-artful-artifacts) - The two soft drink behemoths exemplify the early years of what historians call the “mass consumer culture,” displayed via a beautiful collection of commercial labels and advertisements at the Library of Congress that came from the then-United States Patent Office.
- [Your USPTO: New Energy for Inclusion](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-new-energy-for-inclusion) - “Inclusive” is the key word in the newly branded Council for Inclusive Innovation (CI2). The council—consisting of a who’s who from sectors including the federal government, academia, industry, intellectual property associations and nonprofits—will be chaired by United States Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. The USPTO is an agency of the Department of Commerce.
- [Your USPTO: Inside PTAB Hearings](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-inside-ptab-hearings) - As mentioned in previous articles, these legal proceedings include ex parte appeals (in which an appellant seeks review of a prior rejection of claims in a patent application by a USPTO examiner), and America Invents Act (AIA) trials (in which a petitioner asserts that a patent controlled by a patent owner should not have issued in the first place). In both of these proceedings, parties may request a hearing at the PTAB.
- [Your USPTO: ‘Mystery’ Solved](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-mystery-solved) - Getting a patent may seem difficult. It’s important to understand the steps along the way, so the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s new Expanding Innovation Hub has the information you need to demystify the patent system.
- [Your USPTO: U.S. Patent Act signed](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-magic-moment-us-patent-act-signed) - His speech on Jan. 8, 1790—the forerunner to what we now call the State of the Union Address—touched on issues including defense, foreign policy, the economy, education, naturalization, science, and literature. Elected America’s first president 11 months later, he oversaw the ratification of the Constitution and led the formation of the government.
- [Your USPTO: A Vision for Inclusion](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-a-vision-for-inclusion) - In 1942, the iconic actress received a patent from the then-National Inventors Council for co-inventing a radio signaling device that changed radio frequencies to keep enemies from decoding messages. She figured the device could help in the World War II effort.
- [Your USPTO: His Turn as Mentor](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-his-turn-as-mentor) - Some of the best teachers benefit from the teachers who shaped them. Dr. Jorge L. Valdes, an Education Program advisor and STEM educator at the USPTO, smiles when he thinks back at lunchtime during his long career at AT&T Bell Labs.
- [Your USPTO: A Triumph of Insight](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-a-triumph-of-insight) - March Women’s Entrepreneurship Symposium series inspired and educated a growing inventor demographic. What you do is pivot. That was the theme of the March 3 Women’s Entrepreneurship Symposium (WES) virtual panel discussion, “Always Dancing: Entrepreneurship and the Art of the Pivot.”
- [Your USPTO: Creating Innovators](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-creating-innovators) - The USPTO will conduct the National Summer Teacher Institute (NSTI) on Innovation, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), and Intellectual Property during the week of July 19-23, 2021. The program is virtual this year. Teachers can apply to participate online through June 7.
- [Your USPTO: Dream to Help Others Realized](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-dream-to-help-others-realized) - USPTO’s Pro Bono Program helps solve inventor’s quest for a patent that ‘was going to be impossible.’ When Michael Lopez noticed that the delivery ramps on trucks he drove failed to fit delivery locations and led to serious injury for delivery people, he set out to solve the problem. But he had a problem of his own.
- [Your USPTO: 11 Millionth Patent Inspired by the Heart](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-11-millionth-patent) - The patent, issued on May 11 to co-inventors Jason Diedering and Saravana Kumar at 4C Medical Technologies in Maple Grove, Minnesota, is for a medical device that positions (or repositions) an expandable prosthetic valve in a patient’s heart and can prolong lives.
- [Your USPTO: How Are PTAB Judges Assigned?](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-how-are-ptab-judges-assigned) - Newly confirmed USPTO Director Kathi Vidal will have many responsibilities. One is the authority to designate panels of at least three administrative patent judges in cases filed with the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB).
- [Your USPTO: Appealing a Patent ‘No’](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-appealing-a-patent-no) - If a USPTO patent examiner issues a second or final rejection of your invention, you might consider filing an ex parte appeal to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) to overturn it. When preparing an appeal brief outlining how you feel the examiner erred, keep in mind some important requirements and best practices.
- [Your USPTO: A Library of Help](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-a-library-of-help) - It doesn’t seem too long ago that if you needed to find detailed information about something, you would visit the library. But even now, with all kinds of information instantly available via the internet, a USPTO library program with a human touch is a great resource for anyone researching patents and trademarks.
- [Your USPTO: Director's Corner - Commander in Tech](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-commander-in-tech) - Jamie Holcombe was a 25-year-old serving in the U.S. Army when he was asked to lead a communication platoon of American soldiers. They were male and female. They ranged in age from 19 to 43. They came from diverse backgrounds in culture and language.
- [Your USPTO Making Your Best Argument Before PTAB](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-making-your-best-argument-before-ptab) - If an examiner has twice rejected your claims or issued a final rejection of your patent application, you may file an appeal before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB or the Board).
- [Your USPTO: Invention-Con 2023](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-invention-con-2023) - Panelists at “Invention-Con 2023: Building Tomorrow’s Innovation” were powerful reminders of the collaborative spirit of inventing and entrepreneurship; the indisputable importance of intellectual property; and a world of resources that are waiting to be utilized.
- [Your USPTO: Regional Homes - Rocky Mountain Regional Office](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-rocky-mountain-regional-office) - For the first time in its nearly 200 years of existence, the patent office had a major presence west of the Mississippi River. The RMRO serves nine states: Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.
- [Your USPTO: Patents’ Role in Diagnosing COVID-19](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-patents-role-in-diagnosing-covid) - A recently released Office of the Chief Economist report underscores the importance of innovation in the health field—in this case, during the unprecedented health crisis known as COVID-19.
- [Your USPTO: Visionary Luminaries](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-visionary-luminaries) - Washington hosts recipients of the National Medals of Science, Technology and Innovation, along with National Inventors Hall of Fame inductees. Those honored by the president represented a diverse field from different walks of life throughout the world.
- [Your USPTO: Journeys of Innovation - Courageous Service to Safety](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-courageous-service-to-safety) - In the early morning hours of July 25, 1916, Garrett Morgan awoke to the incessant ringing of the telephone. On the line was Cleveland’s police department. There had been a disaster at the new West Side waterworks, and they needed Morgan’s help.
- [Your USPTO: Director's Blog - Your Creative IP, Your Control](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-directors-blog-your-creative-ip-your-control) - Patented inventions are in every common device and product you use every day: your smartphone, car, or even your comb. Indeed, the USPTO just granted the 1 millionth design patent for a comb created by Agustina Huckaby, an inventor and licensed cosmetologist from Fort Worth, Texas.
- [Your USPTO: News Flash November 2023](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-news-flash-november-2023) - Effective November 8, the USPTO’s Patent Center system will fully replace the EFS-Web system and the Private Patent Application Information Retrieval (Private PAIR) tool for the electronic filing and management of patent applications. The transition to the Patent Center system is essential to ensure that USPTO tools continue to meet and evolve with user needs for patent application filing and retrieval.
- [Your USPTO: Regional Homes](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-regional-homes) - Opened on October 15, 2015, the USPTO’s Silicon Valley Regional Office (SVRO) is appropriately housed in one of the area’s most impressive technological triumphs: San Jose City Hall, designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Richard Meier and built in 2005.
- [Your USPTO: Journeys of Innovation - Visionary With Heart](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-visionary-with-heart) - NASA scientist Robert Bryant’s persistence with a special polymer paved his way to the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Bryant’s perspective on a special polymer moved its use from the troposphere to inside the human body.
- [Your USPTO: Director’s Blog - Navigating an AI World](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-navigating-an-ai-world) - USPTO, U.S. Administration work to leverage artificial intelligence’s promise—and minimize its potential problems.
- [Your USPTO: News Flash - Renaming Honors Croak](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-renaming-honors-croak) - In support of its initiatives to expand inclusive innovation and entrepreneurship to grow jobs and improve lives, the USPTO announced the renaming of its Edison Visiting Scholars Program after Dr. Marian Rogers Croak.
- [Your USPTO: Regional Homes Midwest Office - The Real McCoy](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-regional-homes-midwest-office) - The stately portrait of Elijah J. McCoy—a Canadian-American engineer of African-American descent who invented lubrication systems for steam engines—stands proudly at the first regional office in the history of the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
- [Your USPTO: Journeys of Innovation - True Grit, in White](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-true-grit-in-white) - Single mother and secretary Bette Nesmith Graham conquered fear to create a revolutionary office invention. Her lifelong passion for the arts—combined with a healthy dose of perseverance—saved her career.
- [Your USPTO: Director’s Blog - Tackling Global Climate Change](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-tackling-global-climate-change) - Meeting with leaders of world’s 5 largest IP offices focused on sustainable innovation, net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. Our work ties directly into the U.S. administration’s priority to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.
- [Your USPTO: ‘They Stole My Invention!’](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-they-stole-my-invention) - When a collaboration goes wrong: A look at rare derivation proceedings before the PTAB. If you as an inventor find yourself in this situation, what can you do?
- [Your USPTO: A Faster Patent Application](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-a-faster-patent-application) - Enter the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Its Council for Inclusive Innovation (CI2) First-Time Filer Expedited Examination Pilot Program improves access to the patent application process for participants filing nonprovisional patent applications for the first time.
- [Your USPTO: Journeys of Innovation - She Lives ‘Inventivity’](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-she-lives-inventitvity) - Daughter of Gatorade inventor continues in father’s footsteps with Cade Museum for Creativity & Invention. This began with a lifelong journey of what Phoebe calls “inventivity”—a combination of invention and creativity.
- [YOUR USPTO: Director's Blog - Supporting Our Military](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-supporting-our-military) - This event led by Commerce Department and USPTO provides information to help veterans start businesses. More than 100 military personnel, military spouses, and veterans attended in-person—with hundreds more online—as they heard from experts in business development and intellectual property.
- [Your USPTO: Journeys of Innovation - A Renewable Resolve](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-a-renewable-resolve) - On the morning of September 20, 2017, as the roar of Hurricane Maria gave way to an ominous silence under an overcast sky, Vanessa Carballido Clerch and her parents made their way down a residential street in Guaynabo, a suburb of San Juan, Puerto Rico, back to the home they had evacuated in the middle of the night.
- [Your USPTO: PTAB and Patent Application](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-patent-application) - To get a patent, an inventor must file a patent application at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. This article explains the patent process in general, what actions you can take, and how the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) may figure into the process.
- [Your USPTO: Magic Moment - 1 Millionth Design Patent on the Way](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-one-millionth-design-patent) - We’ve come a long way from the first U.S. design patent, which did not even involve a drawing. According to USPTO projections, the 1 millionth U.S. design patent may potentially be issued in October of this year.
- [Your USPTO: How the PTAB Interprets Your Claim](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-interpret-your-claim) - Patent claims capture the scope of an invention and define the meets-and-bounds of protection available for the invention. A patent’s written description describes the invention and informs the meaning of the terms used in the patent claims. The USPTO interprets the meaning of words in the claims by referring primarily to the written description—and, on occasion, to other sources.
- [Your USPTO: Journeys of Innovation - From Inspired to Inspiring](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-from-inspired-to-inspiring) - Damian Earley’s participation in Ohio Invention League helped propel him to invention successes, and motivate siblings. Damian was introduced to the invention league through a school assembly in second grade.
- [Your USPTO: Director's Blog - An Impactful Year](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-an-impactful-year) - One year into my role as director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office—at the intersection of IP law, policy, and innovation—I am focused on impact.
- [Your USPTO: Journeys of Innovation - A Girl’s Window into History](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-a-girls-window-to-history) - Pleasant Rowland’s Pleasant Company was a major risk: pricey toys and books for pre-teen girls that taught them about history. The 45-year-old former teacher and successful textbook author had gone with her husband to a conference.
- [Your USPTO: Baker’s List and Beyond](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-bakers-list-and-beyond) - In the 1880s, second assistant patent examiner Henry E. Baker took on a project that became his legacy: compiling the first list of African American patent holders. By studying and expanding on Baker’s work, we can get a much fuller picture of Black creators, trailblazers, and disruptors who helped invent modern America.
- [Your USPTO: Inventors Must Get Specific](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-inventors-must-get-specific) - A detailed specification, containing a description and other information illustrating the invention, is essential in the quest for a patent. When inventors submit a patent application, they must describe their invention in what is known as a specification. This contains a description and other information illustrating the invention.
- [Your USPTO: Rejected Again. Now What?](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-rejected-again-now-what) - In the November 2022 Inventors Digest, the USPTO told readers about inventors’ options if a patent examiner rejects a patent application. If a patent applicant receives a second or final rejection of his or her application, the applicant again has options.
- [Your USPTO: Director's Corner - New Law Furthers Inclusive Innovation](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-new-law-furthers-inclusive-innovation) - With the support of Congress and President Biden—and the Sen. Patrick Leahy-led Unleashing American Innovators Act of 2022, signed into law on December 29—now is the moment to make lasting, sustainable change.
- [Your USPTO: News Flash - Udupa is New Commissioner for Patents](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-udupa-is-new-patent-commissioner) - Vaishali Udupa, an intellectual property attorney, engineer, and top executive from Hewlett Packard Enterprise, joined the 13,000-person Department of Commerce agency as the new commissioner for patents on January 17. Before that, as an attorney in private practice, she participated in multiple IP trials and counseled clients with respect to their IP portfolios.
- [Your USPTO: Rising to the COVID Challenge](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-rising-to-the-covid-challenge) - It’s a privilege to announce the five winners of the USPTO’s Patents for Humanity: COVID-19 category competition. The awards recognize these innovators for their rapid response to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic through game-changing technologies.
- [Your USPTO: What is a Patent Claim?](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-what-is-a-patent-claim) - After your invention, your words in a patent application define the boundaries of your exclusive rights. You have just invented something. You believe it is new, useful, solves a problem, and most important: It is yours. You invested time, money, and energy into this invention.
- [Your USPTO: Discover About Discovery](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-discover-about-discovery) - To achieve fairness in any legal dispute, it is paramount for two parties to develop a fair record and be able to respond to arguments raised by the other side. In an America Invents Act (AIA) trial proceeding before the USPTO’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), this is the goal of a process called discovery.
- [Your USPTO: A Total Trademark Tutorial](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-total-trademark-tutorial) - The USPTO’s Trademark Basics Boot Camp provides a comprehensive overview of trademarks and the federal trademark registration process. Free ‘Boot Camp’ overview of this important IP protection begins new 8-week cycle in January.
- [Your USPTO: Trading Card No. 27 - Rory Cooper](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-rory-cooper) - Rory Cooper has devoted his life to accomplishing big things for a small segment of the American population.
- [Your USPTO: Trading Card No. 26 - Charles ‘Pete’ Conrad](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-charles-conrad) - Conrad’s Nov. 19, 1969, feat during the second Apollo moon mission, Apollo 12, marked the apex of an unlikely NASA career. He also was co-inventor of a significant satellite communications technology.
- [Your USPTO: Trading Card No. 5 - Abraham Lincoln](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-abraham-lincoln) - Abraham Lincoln did not invent the stovepipe hat, but he may as well have. How an icon made his mark in fashion.
- [Your USPTO: Trading Card No. 4 - George Washington Carver](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-george-washington-carver) - Carver’s enduring status as “The Father of the Peanut Industry” is not in dispute. The renowned agricultural scientist invented hundreds of uses for peanuts; his innovative crop rotation and planting techniques revolutionized farming.
- [Your USPTO: Trading Card No. 16 - Juliette Gordon Low](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-juliette-gordon-low) - Today, the Juliette Low World Friendship Fund facilitates international projects for Girl Scouts and Girl Guides around the world.
- [Your USPTO: Trading Card No. 16 - Thomas David Petite](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-thomas-david-petite) - He holds more than 50 U.S. patents, with many more pending. But Thomas David Petite says he is merely following the rich inventing heritage of his Native American ancestors.
- [Your USPTO: Trading Card No. 20 - Ray Dolby](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-ray-dolby) - Ray Dolby wasn’t afraid of the unknown. He accepted it as a known fact of inventing.
- [Your USPTO: Trading Card No. 23 - Stephen Gary ‘Woz’ Wozniak](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-stephen-gary-wozniak) - Wozniak was the main tech muscle behind the invention for which he is best known: the first true personal computer.
- [Your USPTO: Trading Card No. 11 - Dean Kamen](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-trading-card-no-11-dean-kamen) - Best known as the inventor of the Segway—a motorized personal vehicle that fell short of some expectations it would replace the automobile—Kamen also developed many revolutionary medical devices including the IBOT Mobility System.
- [Your USPTO: Trading Card No. 9 - Ellen Ochoa](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-ellen-ochoaa) - Ochoa was the first Hispanic female in space, an astronaut on the nine-day Space Shuttle Discovery mission in 1993.
- [Your USPTO: Trading Card No. 7 - Nikola Tesla](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-nikola-tesla) - In any discussion about Nikola Tesla, the name of his rival—Thomas Edison—is likely to come up.
- [Your USPTO: Trading Card No. 18 - Ruth Benerito](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-ruth-rogan-benerito) - Ruth Rogan Benerito was a pioneer in much more than driving safety - her groundbreaking work in textiles included her team’s discovery of wrinkle-resistant cotton.
- [Your USPTO: Trading Card No. 12 - Elijah J. McCoy](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-elijah-j-mccoy) - Although superlatives are commonplace in the marketing of an invention or service, there are few loftier accolades than “the real McCoy.”
- [Your USPTO: Trading Card No. 8 - Sir Alec John Jeffreys](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-sir-alec-john-jeffreys) - It’s a haunting, agonizing refrain in violent crimes that went unsolved for decades or were never solved at all: There were no fingerprints. Then, Sir Alec John Jeffreys changed crime-solving forever.
- [Your USPTO: Trading Card No. 27 - Luis von Ahn](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-luis-von-ahn) - As the world celebrates Computer Science Education Week December 6-12, it can also celebrate von Ahn’s prominent role in improving the security of internet sites, digitizing books through crowdsourcing, and more.
- [Your USPTO: Trading Card No. 25 - Hedy Lamarr](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-hedy-lamarr) - Born Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler in Vienna, Austria, in 1914, Hedy Lamarr left school when she was 15 to become an actress. But she had a passion for inventing.
- [Your USPTO: Trading Card No. 14 - Stephanie Kwolek](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-stephanie-kwolek) - Kwolek led polymer research at DuPont until her retirement in 1986. She was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 1994 and received the National Medal of Technology in 1999, among many other honors.
- [Your USPTO: Trading Card No. 21 - Beulah Louise Henry](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-beulah-louise-henry) - The woman dubbed “Lady Edison” in the 1930s received 49 U.S. patents and was responsible for at least 100 inventions.
- [Your USPTO: Trading Card No. 19 - Dr. Helen Free](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-helen-free) - The ebullient Dr. Free, who died May 1 at age 98, ultimately co-developed the revolutionary at-home dip-and-read glucose test to diagnose diabetes and monitor blood sugar that has been used by millions of people worldwide.
- [Your USPTO: Trading Card No. 24 - John Goodenough](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-john-goodenough) - John B. Goodenough’s battery is still going strong—in more ways than one. The co-developer of the lithium-ion battery will turn 99 on July 25.
- [Your USPTO: Trading Card No. 3 - Forrest Bird](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-forrest-bird) - Discover the remarkable legacy of Forrest Bird, the inventor of the life-saving Bird Mark 7 Respirator. On June 9, 2021, we commemorate what would have been his 100th birthday, honoring his groundbreaking contributions to respiratory care. From his innovative respirators to his lifelong passion for aviation, learn about Bird’s impact on medicine and his humble journey from a homemade device to a global lifesaver.
- [Your USPTO: Trading Card No. 15 - Alfred Yi Cho](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-alfred-yi-cho) - Dr. Alfred Yi Cho’s invention was indeed where no man has gone before, but with vast impacts on Earth. Whenever you make a cellphone call, read words on a computer, watch a DVD, or use a microwave oven, you are benefiting from molecular beam epitaxy (MBE).
- [Your USPTO: Trading Card No. 10 - Luther Burbank](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-luther-burbank) - Luther Burbank would have been consumed with gleeful anticipation for Earth Day on April 22, just as he was at the beginning of every planting season.
- [Your USPTO: Trading Card No. 29 - Temple Grandin](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-temple-grandin) - Dr. Grandin, a professor of animal sciences at Colorado State University who holds U.S. Patent No. 5,906,540 for her animal stunning system, is also a best-selling author whose contributions to autism awareness and the livestock industry were captured in an HBO Emmy Award-winning movie about her life.
- [Your USPTO: Trading Card No. 6 - James West](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-james-west) - Have you heard? James E. West celebrates a milestone birthday on February 10. The world hears things a lot better due to the efforts of West, an acoustical science inventor who turns 90 this month.
- [Your USPTO: Trading Card No. 30 - Dr. Marian Croak](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto-marian-croak) - Marian Croak's prominent role in advancements for internet phone connections have resulted in her being the latest inventor featured in the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s Trading Card Series.

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- [Lander Zone](https://inventorsdigest.com/lander-zone) - LANDER ZONE Patent Search Options August 1, 2024 If you do your own patent search without much experience, you probably will not find the prior art the patent examiner will find during searching. This will result in the rejection of your patent application if you file it on your own. Read More » And Here’s
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- [Meant to Invent](https://inventorsdigest.com/meant-to-invent) - MEANT TO INVENT Game Design Tutorial July 3, 2025 Awarded pro provides step-by-step processes and strategies for inventing a game Read More » The Best-Laid Flight Plans September 1, 2024 Whether inventing, manufacturing, selling your product yourself or inventing and licensing your invention to another company, it will need to go through many steps and/or
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- [Inventing 101](https://inventorsdigest.com/inventing-101) - INVENTING 101 Your Profit Formula September 1, 2024 As a general rule, a product needs to be manufactured for 25 percent of its expected price to consumers to make money. This is due to distribution and selling costs. That means that your manufacturing costs must be less than 50 cents if your product’s retail price
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- [Fluidity IQ](https://inventorsdigest.com/fluidity-iq) - Fluidity IQ Why Every Inventor Needs a Patent Intelligence Tool Danielle Dougherty September 2, 2025 Patent intelligence tools help inventors save costs, strengthen patents, and gain competitive insight—making them a strategic investment, not a luxury. Read More » Semantic Search: Why Better Prompts Unlock Better Patent Results Jeff Roy September 2, 2025 AI-powered semantic search
- [Your USPTO](https://inventorsdigest.com/your-uspto) - Your USPTO USPTO Reaches One Million Electronic Patent Grants Reid Creager January 5, 2026 USPTO issues its one millionth electronic patent grant, marking a major milestone in modernizing the patent process. Read More » New Acting Director for USPTO Inventors Digest January 30, 2025 IP veteran and litigator Coke Morgan Stewart sworn in 1 minute
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