News:
Inventor's Breakfast will be held November 18, 2010, at Denny's Restaurant on Airport Way at 6:30-8:00 am. Heather Heineken from the Small Business Development Center will be the morning speaker. For reservations, call 907-474-2636 or email jtriplehorn@gi.alaska.edu.

Check out these articles at the Mather Library or Google the titles:

• Slim Odds for Inventors - More Companies Solicit Ideas Online; Success Eludes Most
  Wall Street Journal, October 6, 2010, p. B12
• 2010 Technology Innovation Awards
  Wall Street Journal - the Journal Report
  September 27, 2010, p. R1-10
  

Alaska's Only Patent and Trademark Depository Library:
The Keith B. Mather Library, Geophysical Institute, was designated as an official Patent and Trademark Depository Library in April 2010 by the U. S. Department of Commerce, Patent and Trademark Office.

The Mather Library receives and houses copies of U.S. patents and trademark materials and make them readily available to the public and actively disseminates patent and trademark information.

Free Services:

• Training and assistance in searching basic patent and trademark information by professional librarians.
• Access to files of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
• Electronic transmission of patent and trademark information.
• Reference assistance in locating answers to patent and trademark questions.
• Online access to state trademark registration.
• Online access to European Patent Office for foreign patents and reliable sources for obtaining them.
• Patent searching classes (approximately 2 hours). Call the library for the next available class (907-474-2636).

Legal Advice:
The library can provide limited information about Patent and Trademark Office forms and fees, but can not give legal advice. The United States Patent and Trademark Office recommends that inventors contact a patent or trademark attorney for legal advice before submitting a patent or trademark application. A list of registered patent or trademark attorneys and agents in Alaska and other states is available from the Patent and Trademark Depository Library.

Internet Resources:

• U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
  
• Google Patents
• American Patent & Trademark Law Center
• For Trademark Considerations

Suggested Reading:
Free at the Mather Library:

• Basic Facts about Trademarks
• General Information Concerning Patents
• Guide for the Preparation of Patent Drawings
• Guide to Filing a Design Patent Application
• Guide to Filing a Utility Patent Application

Additional patent resource books are being added. Watch the news section.

Requests for Services:
Specialized patent reference services are available Tuesday and Thursday or by appointment.

Requests for information may be made by telephone, fax, e-mail, or in person. It is advisable to call for an appointment before coming to the library for patent or trademark search.

Telephone: 907-474-2636
Fax: 907-474-6846
E-mail: patents@gi.alaska.edu

Patent Copying:
Self-service copying of patents is available at a charge of $.15 per page.

Location:
The PTDL collection is located in the Keith B. Mather Library of the Geophysical Institute in the Akasofu Building, Room 202.