If you’re a Cleveland-area inventor looking for free patent filing assistance, you’re in luck. You can access the Pro Bono Network’s online database to find a lawyer or firm who offers this service. There are a few things to look for before choosing a Cleveland-area patent attorney or firm, however.
\nIf you’re a Cleveland-based inventor, you may be interested in the free patent filing assistance offered by the IP Venture Clinic at Case Western Reserve University School of Law. The program works with inventors who need legal help but cannot afford the cost of a patent lawyer. The IPVC accepts applications from inventors in need of legal services and matches them with volunteers. IPVC law students are also available to assist inventors with legal issues.
\nThe USPTO’s Patent Pro Bono Program matches volunteer practitioners with under-resourced inventors and small businesses. The program matches inventors who need legal assistance to patent their inventions. The program is available throughout the country. To qualify, inventors must be a resident of the United States and legally permitted to work in the country.
\nVolunteers in the IP Venture Clinic at Case Western Reserve University work with the USPTO and the Cleveland Intellectual Property Law Association to help small businesses and individuals obtain a patent. In addition to being a referral service, the program matches inventors with volunteer attorneys who donate their time to help prepare patent applications and prosecute them. Volunteers can work with an inventor by providing consultations on the phone, through videoconferencing or in person at one of the partnering locations. In addition, volunteer attorneys may mentor a junior associate attorney in the IPVC, who is a resource for the program.
\nThe Patent Pro Bono Program is designed to streamline the matching of volunteer attorneys with clients in need of patent filing assistance. Volunteer attorneys work under an attorney-client match-up system, which ensures that only serious inventors are connected with the program’s volunteers. The program’s success is based on the commitment of its founding firms, which have committed pools of billable hours to the program. Since its inception, it has matched 48 attorneys with clients seeking assistance with patent applications.
\nThe Law School at Case Western Reserve University aims to dedicate more resources to social enterprises and nonprofits located close to campus. One example is the Evergreen Cooperatives. Before the organization reached national recognition, Matthew Rossman helped the company’s founders solve legal issues. Other attorneys have worked with organizations such as Yang Gu and Edna House for Women.
\nThe PTAB Pro Bono Program fills a critical need by providing legal assistance to inventors in PTAB proceedings. These proceedings can be intimidating for inventors and pose a significant burden to the ability to practice their inventions. In addition, the PTAB Pro Bono Program offers a rare opportunity for practitioners to serve a community in need. Patent attorneys routinely engage in pro bono activities in other legal areas, but few use their particular expertise in the field to benefit the public. This program allows young and diverse attorneys to fulfill a critical need in the community.
\n\n https://www.ycombinator.com/documents/
\n https://techcrunch.com/
\n https://www.uspto.gov/learning-and-resources/startup-resources
\n https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/plan-your-business/fund-your-business
\n https://hbr.org/1998/11/how-venture-capital-works
\n http://patentpc.com/
\n http://uspto.gov/
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