Patent searching is typically the first step in determining whether to pursue patent protection for an invention.  Woodard, Emhardt patent attorney Chuck Schmal will present classes on October 15 and 22, 2010, covering techniques for conducting patent searches using the US Patent & Trademark Office’s Search Tool (PubWEST) System.  Law students, practitioners, library staff, and anyone with an interest in patent searching is welcome to attend.  The PubWEST System allows the public to access the same computer databases used by Examiners at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in Alexandria, Virginia.

The hour-long program includes a general overview of the PubWEST System and a tutorial on conducting patentability searches.  Topics include basic search concepts and recommendations for organizing a search, recommendations for which PTO databases to use, specific techniques for conducting various types of searches (word, party, citation, and classification), and the various ways of viewing the information using PubWEST.

This program will be conducted in conjunction with Woodard, Emhardt’s donation of upgraded PubWEST search terminals at the Library.  The class is provided as a companion resource to patent searchers as part of Woodard’s effort to improve patent searching capabilities at the Central Library.  For more discussion on the search terminals, please see Dedicated Patent Searching Terminals Available at the Central Library.   

For information on attending the class, please contact Chuck Schmal