Free Patent Help For Inventors (updated list)
The patent office realizes that many inventors and small businesses cannot afford to hire a patent attorney or agent to represent them and have provides several programs and resources for these "pro se" inventors. The term "pro se" means that you are representing yourself before the patent office instead of having an attorney or agent help you. Here is a list of some free patent help resources that we have found (we will keep updating this as we find more sources).
Source 1 - The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Pro Se Inventor Help Center
The USPTO website is huge and filled with too much information. This part of their website should be your first introduction to the patent office:
http://www.uspto.gov/patents-getting-started/using-legal-services/pro-se-assistance-program
Contact the Pro Se Assistance Program
For general inquiries, questions about your application, or other pro se matters, the Pro Se Assistance Program can be contacted in a variety of ways:
Email: [email protected] (link sends e-mail)
phone number: 1-866-767-3848
(Hint: If you don't mind traveling you can make an in-person meeting with the Pro Se counselors at the patent office located outside of Washington DC)
