Best Practices for Assisting Patrons
Remember
that we cannot give legal advice. "Advice" includes telling
a patron that they have chosen the appropriate class/subclass
for their invention, advising patrons as to whether or not
their search is "done," or any other statement
that addresses whether or not something is patentable.
What
to ask patrons
Try to establish the patron's level of skill, and whether they need to know background information about patents in general, or if they are really ready to begin the patentability search. Useful questions:
- What
have you done so far?
- What do you know about obtaining patents? Have you ever done this before?
- Have
you done any preliminary searching?
- Are you looking at patents to get ideas of what is out there, or are you ready to begin a comprehensive "prior art" search?
If you need to recommend a "get-started" guide:
Patent it yourself / by David Pressman.
Berkeley, Calif. : Nolo, 2002.9th ed.
When
to refer patrons
Refer to the Patent Depository Librarian any time. If folks are calling long distance, they may not realize that UNC, Charlotte is also a patent depository library.
Referring
Questions of Legal Nature
Most experienced patrons will know when they are ready to consult with lawyers, and will probably be aware that only certain attorneys and agents (non-lawyers) are certified by the USPTO. The USPTO maintains a list of certified Patent Attorneys and Agents on their website.
Referring
Technical Questions
If
the question is about how to use CASSIS, the USPTO web site
or other patent searching tools, and you need help, refer users to:
Michele Hayslett, Data Services and Government Information Librarian
513-4433
michele_hayslett@ncsu.edu
Contacting the USPTO
If
patrons want to call the USPTO themselves, they can use
this number: 1-800-786-9199.
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