This workshop will introduce new inventors to types of patents and applications, patent eligibility, parts of a patent, how to find free legal assistance, patent searching, and more.

This is a basic hands-on workshop intended to take some of the mystery out of patent searching. The goal is to show you the tools of patent searching so that you can continue the search on your own. Patent attorneys and their teams can also do a patent search for you (for a fee) or in addition to your search, but it helps to be familiar with the process and to take advantage of free databases. We will explore the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's patent databases, the European Patent Office's patent database, and Google Patents using keywords and the patent classification system.