There are established sources that provide free patent filing assistance in Huntsville. If you are looking for a patent attorney in Huntsville, Alabama, then you have come to the right place. Patent attorneys in Huntsville have profiles, and you can read about their education and biographical details.
The USPTO’s Texas Regional Office
Alabama residents have access to a host of unique resources and assistance in their state. USPTO’s Texas Regional Office provides additional support and resources for customers in the Southern region of the United States.
The USPTO’s Texas Regional Office (TXRO) is located in the Terminal Annex Federal Building of downtown Dallas. An extension of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office headquarters, we serve the Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas regions. Opened in 2015, our goal is to promote innovation and stimulate the economy by connecting inventors and entrepreneurs to government resources, supporting students and teachers through our STEM education programs, gathering feedback from regional stakeholders, and recruiting diverse talent from the region.
The office provides outreach services for inventors, entrepreneurs, startups, researchers and others to:
- Obtain information about the USPTO through walk-in services
- Search existing patents and trademarks on designated workstations
- Attend workshops, trainings, conferences, and roundtables designed for various experience levels
- Participate in programs designed to support and foster STEM education with an emphasis on innovative learning
- Deliver technical training from experts in the region to patent examiners working around the country
- Use collaborative spaces enabling region educators, inventors, entrepreneurs, and IP community to collaborate while allowing USPTO to provide them with information and resources.
- Meet with our strategic federal partners, such as the Small Business Administration, Consumer Product Safety Commission, and other bureaus at the Department of Commerce, to discuss programs for small businesses and the entrepreneurial community
- Use interview rooms for applicants to connect with patent examiners working at USPTO headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, and across the country
- Gain remote access to Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) proceedings at USPTO headquarters and other regional offices in the future. We also have a hearing room to host PTAB proceedings.
- Tour our facility. We host scheduled public tours on the second Friday of every month from 10 to 11 a.m., excluding federal holidays. To schedule a tour, send an email to TexasRegionalOffice@uspto.gov or call 469-295-9000.
Patent Pro Bono Program
Alabama inventors are served by the Birmingham Bar Volunteer Lawyers Program (BBVLP) Patent Program, part of the USPTO’s nationwide pro bono program that matches inventors who qualify (based on income) with volunteer attorneys and patent professionals that will help you file your patent application.
Birmingham Bar Volunteer Lawyers Program (BBVLP) Patent Program
Now, small inventor groups and solo inventors are eligible for free patent assistance. Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham, as part of the America Invents Act, is part of a nationwide program aimed at helping those with limited resources obtain patents. Patents are granted under federal law based on “first-to-file the patent”, not “first-to invent”. VLB’s free patent program is essential to protect inventors who lack the means to get a patent.
VLB is a regional hub that helps solo inventors and small groups of inventors who need assistance in Alabama or Mississippi to obtain a patent. The program helps inventors locate qualified pro bono attorneys and patent agents to assist with filing a patent. You must meet four requirements to qualify for the program.
- Income eligibility
- Take part in the USPTO online patent training module
- A real invention (not an idea)
- Completed prior art search
Click here to see a list of all requirements.
The placement of a patent lawyer is determined on a case by case basis. There is no guarantee.
VLB also seeks attorneys in Alabama and Mississippi who can pair up with inventors. If you are an attorney who is interested in providing pro bono assistance to low-income citizens, please contact Graham Hewitt.
Income Eligibility
The income eligibility level for inventors is 200% or less of the federal poverty line.
| Household Size | Annual Income Below |
|---|---|
| One person | $24,980 |
| Two people | $33,820 |
| Three people | $42,660 |
| 4 people | $51,500 |
| 5 people | $60,340 |
| 6 people | $69,180 |
USPTO Online Patent Training Module
All inventors are required to complete the USPTO’s online training module or attend a training seminar approved by the USPTO. Click to complete the online module.
Actual Invention
Before being eligible, interested inventors must have more than an idea. You must be able to describe your invention so that anyone could make and use it. **Do not disclose your invention publicly before filing a provisional or patent application.
Prior Art Search
Before being matched up with an attorney, all inventors are required to complete a search of prior art. The patent attorney will use a prior art search to determine whether an application is eligible for filing. Click here to see the USPTO’s step-bystep guide for completing a search of prior art.
Law school clinics
Over 60 law school clinics participate in the Law School Clinic Certification Program, which provides free legal services to members of the public including inventors, entrepreneurs, and small businesses. The participating law school clinics offer patent and/or trademark legal services to members of the general public who have been accepted as clients of a clinic. Each participating law school has its own requirements and will accept new clients at its discretion.
There are 19 law school clinics that provide free patent and trademark services to all residents of the United States regardless of location.
Patent and Trademark Resource Centers
Certain libraries throughout the United States are designated as Patent and Trademark Resource Centers (PTRC), which provide resources and trained staff to help customers use and understand USPTO information and filing systems.
Patenting an invention and trademarking a product name can be challenging. PTRC library staff are information experts trained on how to use search tools to access patent and trademark information. They provide the human touch that no webpage or legal book can provide in helping inventors and small businesses find the information they need to protect their intellectual property. However, PTRC representatives are not attorneys and cannot provide legal advice.
PTRC library representatives can:
- Provide access to resources such as Patent Public Search and TESS, Trademark Electronic Search System
- Direct you to information and explain the application process and fee schedule
- Demonstrate how to use search tools to conduct a patent or trademark search
- Show you a directory of local patent attorneys who are licensed to practice before the USPTO
- Offer classes on intellectual property (varies by location)
- Offer assistance on how to do historical research on patents and trademarks
- Show you how to track current research by company or nonprofit
- Help you find assignee information and much more.
Alabama is served by the following PTRCs:
- Ralph Brown Draughon Library – Auburn
- Birmingham Public Library – Birmingham
Benefits of hiring a patent attorney in Huntsville
Hiring a patent attorney in Huntsville can be beneficial in a variety of ways. For starters, an attorney will help you draft your patent documents and complete tasks associated with the patent. The process can take hundreds of hours to complete, and it requires strong writing and project management skills.
Patent attorneys also offer specialized expertise. Licensed patent attorneys have a background in engineering, science, or law. They will have a thorough understanding of the legal aspects of getting a patent and the underlying technology that makes it unique. As such, they can be a huge asset to an inventor.
Patenting an invention can be a complicated process, and if you are not experienced in it, you could risk losing valuable legal rights. Having a licensed patent attorney guide you through the process can ensure that your ideas are protected and not copied by others. Additionally, patent attorneys can provide valuable advice on timing requirements, non-disclosure agreements, and other aspects of the patenting process.
Hiring a patent attorney in Huntsville ensures that you receive the maximum protection for your idea. They specialize in patents and understand the process from beginning to end. A patent process can take up to two years to finalize, and missing any key requirements can result in losing your patent rights altogether. Hiring an experienced patent attorney will take all of the stress and frustration out of the process.
A patent is a legal property that must be protected and can only be transferred if the inventor has a right to use it. This is also known as a license and will be treated as such for tax purposes. An individual can only be granted one patent. However, a business can have multiple patents. In Huntsville, the income requirement is only one of the requirements for filing a patent application.
Accelerators and Incubators
Urban Engine
aims to boost the economy of North Alabama. The organization provides four different (and free) programs that help entrepreneurs succeed. 4HTP guides participants in the development of an idea into a minimal viable product. OpenHSV, a community platform created by creative engineers for professionals to connect with their hyperlocal network.
BizTech
It is a Huntsville-based incubator that was founded in 2003, has helped hundreds of businesses since then. BizTech runs the StartUp2Launch Program, which assists founders in navigating each stage of their startup-scaling venture. It also connects them with mentors and resources to offer support at every step.
The Invention to Innovation Center
It is a multi-faceted organization that focuses on the growth and creation of science, technology, and engineering companies. The I2C provides access to capital, mentorship, advisors, speaker series and community events, as well as permanent and co-working office space.
HudsonAlpha
aims to bring together forces in the fields of education, medicine and economic development. The organization focuses on genomic advances and provides commercialization support, lab and office space, mentorship and a shared entrepreneurial network.
Catalyst
provides a wide range of startup services. The Women’s Business Center offers workshops, mentoring, microloans, and other funding to help women in North Alabama start and grow their small businesses. Their Veterans Accelerator assists military veterans to build and scale up their startups. TechRich is focused on meeting the needs for the defense and aerospace industries by identifying promising startups and technologies, and connecting them with the appropriate resources and contact. The Catalyst provides additional programming and services for all types of startups.
gener8tor
a Madison-based accelerator, has launched two new Huntsville programs: the classic Accelerator Studios and gBeta Huntsville. The programs are aimed at companies in different stages of their lifecycle. will partner with RCP Companies’ new MidCity Accelerator Foundation.
Ad4! Business Acceleration
aids startups looking to scale by providing a variety of advisory services, including business process modeling, exploration of operational efficiencies client and market identification, and team member-training, among others.
https://www.ycombinator.com/documents/
https://techcrunch.com/
https://www.uspto.gov/learning-and-resources/startup-resources
https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/plan-your-business/fund-your-business
https://hbr.org/1998/11/how-venture-capital-works
http://patentpc.com/
http://uspto.gov/
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