Patent and Trademark Office and PTO Pro Bono Committee

In addition to the pro bono program described below, the committee also does the following:

• Studies decisions of the Federal Circuit related to decisions of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, makes recommendations to the Board on issues that need to be addressed, and assists in developing programs for regional and national meetings. 
• The Committee encourages law students interested in IP practice and to educate law students and others on issues of PTO practice, including impact of Federal Circuit decisions on such practice.

The PTO Pro Bono Committee establishes and maintains relations with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, The America Invents Act (AIA) Pro Bono Task Force, and its successors. The Committee also serves as the regional program facilitator for the District of Columbia, Virginia, and West Virginia region for the patent pro bono program established under the America Invents Act, provides information to the Association’s community regarding these pro bono opportunities, and recruits volunteers to screen applicants for eligibility to participate in the program – serving as the pro bono counsel to such applicants.

The pro bono programs will be individually run as regional programs available to assist inventors and small businesses in their specific region first and to others as the need arises. In order to logistically manage applicants to the programs, it has been decided that there should be a single intake and initial screening authority. PTO and the Federal Circuit Bar Association have agreed that the Association will serve as the regional program facilitator for the District of Columbia, Virginia, and West Virginia region.

More information can be found on our PTO Pro Bono Program page.