Wright Brother's Flying Machine Lost Patent is Found!

Orville and Wilbur Wright's US Patent number 821,393 "Flying Machine" lost 36 years ago has now been found in an archival cave in Lenexa, Kansas in time to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the patent. Select pages will be on display at the downtown D.C. National Archives West Rotunda Gallery starting on May 20, 2016. More information about the discovery and scheduled display is available at http://www.archives.gov/press/press-releases/2016/nr16-52.html and from a Washington Post article.

Patent Quality Chat Webinar on April 12

The Patent Quality Chat webinar series continues Tuesday, April 12, from noon – 1 p.m. ET.

The topic will be Excellence in Customer Service: 

Meet the Regional Offices, hosted by the regional directors of all four offices –

Christal Sheppard, Director of the Elijah J. McCoy Midwest Regional Office (Detroit);  
Molly Kocialski, Director of the Rocky Mountain Regional Office (Denver);
John Cabeca, Director of the Silicon Valley West Coast Regional Office (San Jose); and  
Hope Shimabuku, Director of the Texas Regional Office (Dallas).

The Regional Directors will highlight the activities at their individual offices, and they look forward to hearing your feedback about new ways that they could benefit their regions.

Webinar login information is available on our Chat website at
http://www.uspto.gov/patent/initiatives/2016-patent-quality-chats where you can also find information about previous and upcoming Patent Quality Chat topics, such as Topic Submission for Case Studies, the Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) System, and Improving the Electronic Patent Application Process.

Trade Protection Not Troll Protection Act Introduced

On March 22, 2016 Representatives Tony Cardenas (D-CA) and Blake Farenthold (R-TX) introduced the Trade Protection Not Troll Protection Act to protect American companies from abusive litigation from patent trolls, companies that do no make or sell any products but purchase patents and then sue American employers for products that are already on the market. See a press release from Representative Cardenas that explains and links to the bill. If you'd like to follow the bill's progress through Congress, access H.R. 4829 - Trade Protection Not Troll Protection on Congress.gov and use the Get alerts button.

Request for Information Related to Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge

From Federal Register Vol. 81, No. 57 (Thurs., Mar. 24, 2016) ([Pages 15694-15695])

Request for Information Related to Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge

AGENCY: United States Patent and Trademark Office, Commerce.

ACTION: Request for Comments.

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SUMMARY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is requesting information from its stakeholders regarding issues to be discussed in upcoming World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)meetings related to intellectual property, genetic resources, and associated traditional knowledge.

DATES: Submission Deadline Date: To be ensured of consideration, submissions must be received on or before May 23, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Written submissions should be sent by electronic mail over the Internet addressed to: InfoForWIPOIGC@uspto.gov. Submissions may also be submitted by postal mail addressed to: Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450, marked to the attention of Karin Ferriter, Office of Policy and International Affairs. Although submissions may be sent by postal mail, the USPTO prefers to receive submissions by electronic mail message over the Internet because sharing submissions with the public is more easily accomplished.

For more information: https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2016-03-24/html/2016-06681.htm

March 15, 2016 Deadline - National Summer Teacher Institute on Innovation, STEM, and Intellectual Property

If you are a K-12 teacher wanting to learn more about the creation and protection of intellectual property including "inventions, knowledge discovery, creative ideas, and expressions of the human mind that may have commercial value and are protectable under patent, trademark, copyright, or trade secret laws," consider applying for the 3rd Annual National Summer Teacher Institute on Innovation, STEM, and Intellectual Property on July 17-22, 2016, in East Lansing, Michigan. You will discover "teacher-friendly instructional tools, lesson strategies, and innovation practices designed to enhance student learning and outcomes in the classroom while meeting the rigors of the Common Core and Next Generation Science and Engineering Standards."  Those chosen to participate who live more than 50 miles from the training site at Michigan State University will have lodging and travel expenses covered. Submit an application online by March 15, 2016.