The Sunnyvale Library is a Patent and Trademark  Resource Center (PTRC). Supported by a US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) program and expert staff, PTRCs disseminate patent and trademark information and support the public's diverse intellectual property needs.

As a PTRC, Sunnyvale Public Library Offers: Free access to patent and trademark documents in various formats. Access to the PubWest database for patent searching. Resources for historical patent research. Patent searching guides and other reference materials on intellectual property. USPTO-trained staff to answer patent and trademark questions. Classes and events related to intellectual property.  (Check the Events Calendar to see what's offered now. You may also sign up to be notified by email of upcoming events, including patent and trademark events, by registering to receive adult announcement and event notifications.)

What's New? Five Ways You Can Protect Your Great Idea Without Filing a Utility Patent: Monday, June 18, 7 p.m. Nolo Press author Richard Stim will speak at the Library regarding ways businesses can profit from an innovation without filing a patent application. Check out his blog! Patent It Yourself: Saturday, June 30, 3 p.m. David Pressman, author of the guide Patent It Yourself, outlines how to file a patent without an attorney. Lawyers in the Library: May 29, June 26, July 31, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Have a legal question about intellectual property? Let these volunteer attorneys help. Call (408) 730-7300 (option 5) to sign up for your free appointment.

Just getting started with patents?

Here are some useful websites, videos, and tools.

General Information Concerning Patents. This guide from the USPTO explains what a patent is and how to get one.

Conducting a Patent Search. A 50-minute presentation from the USPTO, explaining how to conduct a patent search and why it is important to be thorough. [Flash is required.]

Here's a shortcut to the USPTO's search page, where you can search patents from 1790-present and published applications from 2001-present. Google Patents can be another place to start.

Click here for pat2pdf.org, a free site that will create a pdf file for any patent number.

Here are some shortcut links to patent fees and patent forms.

Looking for an attorney? Click here to search for attorneys and patent agents who are registered to practice before the United States Patent Office.

Just getting started with trademarks?

Basic Facts About Trademarks. This guide from the USPTO explains what a trademark is and how to get one.

Trademark Information Network. The USPTO has created a series of newscast-style videos to help you understand trademarks. Check them out!

These are shortcut links to trademark fees and trademark forms and filing.

International Patents and Trademarks

International Patent Protection. Links to information at the USPTO site about the Patent Cooperation Treaty, Common Application Format, and more.

Espacenet. Search patent documents worldwide from over 72 countries and regions.

WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) Intellectual Property Digital Library. Search international trademark registrations (Madrid system), international patent applications (PCT), and other databases; access guides, standards, laws, regulations, fees, statistics, FAQs, links, and more.

Lawyers in the Library

Have a legal question about patents, trademarks or copyrights? Your Library is calling in the lawyers!

You can now sign up for free legal counseling about intellectual property law -- meaning patents, trademarks, or copyright issues. Volunteer attorneys who specialize in these areas will be offering 20-minute consultations from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., on the last Tuesday of each month. All sessions will take place at the Library.

Call (408) 730-7300, (option 5), to sign up for your free meeting with a lawyer. Future sessions will be held April 24, May 29, June 26 and July 31, all from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The Library is working in partnership with Silicon Valley-based Pro Bono Project. The service is part of a project supported in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.