Original idea? Patent and Trademark Resource Center at NMSU assists innovators

Original idea? Patent and Trademark Resource Center at NMSU assists innovators DATE: 06/11/2018 WRITER: Tiffany Acosta, 575-646-3929, tfrank@nmsu.edu CONTACT: David Irvin , 575-646-6925, dirv@nmsu.edu Alex Moon has a new idea, and the biology doctorate student at New Mexico State University is trying to patent his idea. Through the process, the Patent and Trademark Resource Center at NMSU’s Zuhl Library has been a valuable resource. Established at NMSU in October 2016, the PTRC is the only office in New Mexico and the surrounding region and is officially affiliated with the United States Patent and Trademark Office in Alexandria, Virginia. “This program is set up through the USPTO to help inventors who don’t have the support or money up front to get going on the patent process,” said David Irvin, NMSU business and government documents librarian and PTRC representative. The PTRC can help individuals conduct prior-art searches for patents and trademarks so they can determine if a patent or trademark already exist before proceeding with the process. The PTRC is a free service and open to the public. Moon, who is trying to patent his method for building 3D printed casts, filled LLC paperwork in January 2018 for his business and then visited the PTRC and talked with Irvin to research the viability of his idea. “I’m currently now in the later stages of prototype development. Hopefully it comes out soon. It’s been a long challenge to get to that spot,” Moon said. “If my patent is granted, it’s because of the PTRC and the people in it.” The PTRC provides access to not only the research software and USPTO training materials but also referrals to the ProBoPat program, which connects individuals to pro bono intellectual property attorneys. “It saves inventors money to be able to have access to an office like this,” Irvin said. “It also is part of the extension and outreach mission of the university ... to reach out and provide resources for inventors, innovators and entrepreneurs who are applying for patents or trademarks. “The library is a good place for this because we have been trained as professional researchers. You can do keyword searches using Google Patent search, but the more effective way is to use the software that the patent examiners use themselves,” he added. “We have that capability.” Moon encourages local inventors to visit the PTRC. “Don’t be afraid to use it. It’s a very awesome resource that is there and not many people utilize, which is really sad,” he said. Since the PTRC office opened, Irvin estimates 130 people have been helped. Starting this summer, the PTRC will be open all year, previously the office closed in the summer. “People need to be realistic about how difficult this process is and how long it takes and often times how expensive it is,” Irvin said. “If people want to go through a search for art, this is a great place to do it. If they want advice about the application process or drafting claims, you really have to do that on your own or have an attorney do it.” Additionally, Irvin mentioned the NMSU Library collects and binds plant patents from the USPTO. Since 1994, NMSU has received plant patent volumes that are housed in the Branson Library. For more information visit http://nmsu.libguides.com/PTRC.