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USPTO Names Maryland Library to Support Intellectual Property Needs of Inventors and Entrepreneurs (31Jan2007)

Posted by Kristen Cichocki at January 31, 2007 02:29 PM

PRESS RELEASE
Contact:
Brigid Quinn or Ruth Nyblod
(571) 272-8400 or
brigid.quinn@uspto.gov
ruth.nyblod@uspto.gov

January 31, 2007

USPTO Names Maryland Library to Support Intellectual Property Needs of Inventors and Entrepreneurs
University of Baltimore School of Law Library Designated a Patent and Trademark Depository

The Commerce Department's United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) today announced the designation of the University of Baltimore School of Law Library as a Patent and Trademark Depository Library (PTDL). PTDLs provide access to intellectual property information including more than 7 million patents and over 4 million active or pending trademark registrations, as well as other related information in various print and electronic media to support the diverse intellectual property needs of the public.

"The new PTDL gives Baltimore area students, faculty, researchers, inventors and entrepreneurs a unique resource right in their community," said Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property Jon Dudas. "The depository program makes the wealth of information contained only in patent and trademark documents easily accessible, and the library provides expert staff assistance in its usage."

The University of Baltimore serves a diverse student population with an emphasis on professional degrees and certificate programs for working adults. In addition, the University of Baltimore School of Law and Merrick School of Business work hand-in-hand through initiatives such as the "Lab to Market" program that fosters innovation in Maryland. The University of Baltimore School of Law Library is located in the John and Frances Angelos Law Center building at 1429 Maryland Avenue. It is easily accessible by car via I-83, Baltimore Light Rail, Baltimore Metro, and Pennsylvania Station for Amtrak and MARC Maryland commuter trains.

The PTDL will open to the public on February 1, 2007, and a grand opening celebration will be held at the library in Baltimore at a later date.

USPTO's patent and trademark depository library program is a nationwide network of public, state and academic libraries authorized to disseminate patent and trademark information and to support inventors, intellectual property attorneys and agents, business people, researchers, entrepreneurs, students, historians and the general public who are not able to come to USPTO's offices in Alexandria, Va. Services at the libraries are free, and include assistance in accessing and using patent and trademark documents, training on USPTO databases, obtaining access to the USPTO Web site, and hosting public seminars on intellectual property topics for novice and experienced innovators.

The patent and trademark depository library program began in 1871 when federal law first provided for the distribution of printed patents to libraries for use by the public. The addition of the University of Baltimore School of Law Library to the PTDL network makes a total of 85 libraries located in 47 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. A list of all the current libraries can be found on USPTO's Web site at www.uspto.gov .

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