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Patent & Trademark Resource Center

 

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About the Center

The San Diego Public Library (SDPL) is an officially designated Patent and Trademark Resource Center (PTRC) that is part of a nationwide library network maintained by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

The Patent and Trademark Resource Center is located on the 3rd floor of the Central Library. You do not need to visit SDPL in-person to access search tools, but the library provides certain resources (e.g. a current collection of full-color Plant patents, and legal reference books) that are only accessible in-person. 

Contact Us

PTRC Representatives are library staff who are information experts trained on how to use search tools to access patent and trademark information. Representatives can:

  • Demonstrate how to use search tools to conduct a patent or trademark search
  • Direct you to information and explain the application process and fee schedule
Please note: Patent searching often is a complicated process that may require the assistance of a patent attorney or patent agent. PTRC Representatives are not attorneys and cannot provide legal advice. Staff can, however, direct you to lists of local patent attorneys who are licensed to practice before the USPTO.
 

For in-depth assistance, please contact us at PTRCStaff@Sandiego.gov or request an appointment below:

Book a PTRC Librarian

Programs & Events

Trademarks 101: Monthly Class for Entrepreneurs and Creatives

Discover the essentials of trademarks and how they protect your brand! Join us for Trademarks 101, a free, recurring class held on the third Thursday of each month at 11:00 a.m. This beginner-friendly session will cover what trademarks are, why they matter, and how to navigate the trademark process. Whether you're an entrepreneur, small business owner, or creative professional, this class provides the tools you need to safeguard your ideas. Bring your questions and curiosity to The StartUp, 3rd Floor, San Diego Central Library!

Registration is required. Please visit our calendar to select the class you'd like to attend.

 

Explore USPTO Programs: Resources for Innovators and Entrepreneurs

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) offers a variety of free programs designed to empower innovators, entrepreneurs, and small businesses. From workshops and webinars to one-on-one consultations, these events provide valuable insights into patents, trademarks, intellectual property (IP) strategies, and more.

Stay informed and take advantage of these resources! Visit the USPTO Public Events Calendar to explore upcoming opportunities and find the program that fits your needs. Whether you're protecting an invention or building a brand, the USPTO is ready to help.

What is a patent?

A patent is an intellectual property right granted by the Government of the United States of America to an inventor “to exclude others from making, using, offering for sale, or selling the invention throughout the United States or importing the invention into the United States” for a limited time in exchange for public disclosure of the invention when the patent is granted.
 
This right was established over 200 years ago in Article 1, Section 8 of the United States Constitution: “To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries.”
 
For more details, visit the United States Patent and Trademark Office's introduction to patents.
 

How to Get Started

The below listed and downloadable documents will help get you started on your patent research process.

Useful Websites

  • United States Patent & Trademark Office - Learn about the patent application process. Search for patents and published patent applications. File your own patent application.
  • Conociendo sobre la Propiedad Intelectual - En el presente site podrá encontrar información relevante sobre todos los aspectos de la propiedad intelectual. Para mayor información u orientación, favor visitar o hacer cita en el Centro de Recursos de Patentes y Marcas de la Biblioteca General del Recinto Univresitario de Mayagüez de la Universidad de Puerto Rico.
  • European Patent Office - The official website of the European Patent Office (EPO). Find information on applying and searching for patents, legal issues on patents, patent grants, rules and regulations about European and international patent applications.
  • WIPO - World Intellectual Property Organization - WIPO is responsible for the promotion of the protection of intellectual property throughout the world through co-operation among States and for the administration of various multilateral treaties dealing with the legal and administrative aspects of intellectual property.
  • Japan Patent Office - Learn about intellectual property in Japan.

U.S. Patent Search Tools

  • Patent Public Search -  Patent Public Search was created in 2022 to replace the Pub EAST and Pub WEST systems with a single, more robust online platform that provides the public access to search tools used by patent examiners.
  • PAIR - Patent Application Information Retrieval - Get information about a patent application's status.
  • Patent Assignment Search - Search for Patent Assignment information beginning August 1980.
  • Official Gazette for Patents - The Official Gazette for Patents allows you to see patents issued each week and is available online for the past year. You can browse by classification or type of patent.

International Patent Search Tools

What Is a Trademark or Servicemark?

A trademark is a word, phrase, symbol or design, or a combination of words, phrases, symbols or designs, that identifies and distinguishes the source of the goods of one party from those of others.
 
A service mark is the same as a trademark, except that it identifies and distinguishes the source of a service rather than a product. Throughout this guide, the terms "trademark" and "mark" refer to both trademarks and service marks.
 
Visit the USPTO's Trademark Basics page to learn more.
 

How to Get Started

The downloadable documents below will help get you learn more about trademarks and the trademark search process.

Videos about Trademarks

Watch the videos below to learn the basics about trademarks. More videos are available on the USPTO's Trademark Information Network (TMIN).
  1. Introduction to the USPTO and Trademark Basics
  2. Before You File
  3. Searching
  4. Applicant Information
  5. Drawing Issues

Useful Websites

Trademark Search Tools

Trademark Symbols

A trademark can be claimed with the letters TM written in superscript: TM

A service mark can be claimed with the letters SM written in superscript: SM

A trademark or service mark that has been registered with the USPTO is signified by the letter R with a circle around it: ®

What is Copyright?

Copyright is a form of protection grounded in the U.S. Constitution and granted by law for original works of authorship fixed in a tangible medium of expression. Copyright covers both published and unpublished works.
 
Original works of authorship include literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works, such as poetry, novels, movies, songs, computer software, and architecture. Copyright does not protect facts, ideas, systems, or methods of operation, although it may protect the way these things are expressed.
 
For more, please see the U.S. Copyright Office's downloadable Copyright Basics.
 

Useful Websites

Copyright Search Tools

Copyright Symbols

The copyright symbol for works other than sound recordings is the letter C with a circle around it: ©
The copyright symbol for sound recordings is the letter P with a circle around it: ℗

Legal Resources

Provides free legal assistance in preparing and filing a patent application to financially under-resourced inventors and entrepreneurs.
 
Supervised law school students provide free legal assistance to eligible clients.
 
Find entire NOLO books and forms on patents, trademarks, trade secrets, copyright, and creative arts & music. Follow the instructions to login.
 
Provides legal services to low-income entrepreneurs and eligible microbusinesses and nonprofit organizations.
707 Broadway, Suite 1400, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: 619-235-5656, ext. 130 | Email: info@sdvlp.org

 

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