Materials and Services Available at PTDLs

• General Description
• Printed and Electronic Materials
• Electronic Databases
• PTDLP Publications
• Core Collection List [PDF]

General Description

To be designated as a Patent and Trademark Depository Library (PTDL), a library must meet specific requirements and agree to fulfill certain obligations as outlined in the brochure Notes on Becoming a Patent and Trademark Depository Library. Each PTDL is required to acquire and make freely available to the public a minimum 20-year backfile of U.S. patents. It must protect the integrity of the collection, maintain classification system documents and related publications, and assist the public in efficient use of the collection, and retain all depository items until disposal is arranged through the Patent and Trademark Depository Library Program (PTDLP).

The intellectual property collections of some libraries significantly exceed the core requirements. All libraries have access to U.S. patents since 1790. To visit your nearest PTDL, consult the List of Patent and Trademark Depository Libraries.

Printed and Electronic Materials

All PTDLs maintain a core collection, which includes at least a 20-year backfile of U.S. patents. Other materials available include:

• Currently issuing U.S. patents (Available on optical disc and on the web)

• General Information Concerning Patents - Provides information in non-technical language concerning the application for and granting of patents and answers some of the most frequently asked questions about the patent application process (Available in print and on the web)

• Basic Facts About Trademarks - Includes forms and instructions for filing applications to register trademarks and service marks (Available in print and on the web)

• Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP) - USPTO Patent Examiners' guide to examination practice (Available on optical disc and on the web)

• Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure (TMEP) - USPTO Trademark Examiners' guide to examination practice (Available on the web)

• Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Manual of Procedure (TBMP) - USPTO guide to Trademark Trial and Appeal Board practice (Available on the web)

• Trademark Acceptable Identification of Goods and Services Manual - An alphabetical index of goods and services identified by International Class (Available on the web)

• Attorneys and Agents Registered to Practice Before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office - A list by state, name, and address of practitioners authorized to practice before the PTO (Available on the web)

• Products and Services Catalog - Includes information and ordering instructions for products and services available from PTO (Available in print and on the web)

Electronic Databases

Patent and trademark electronic search products are provided to all PTDLs by the USPTO. PTDLs also provide access to the Web-based Search Tool (PubWEST) as provided in the Public Search Facility (PSF) in Alexandria, Virginia.

• Optical Disc Products at PTDLs - Describes PTO electronic search products regularly provided to PTDLs

• USPTO Web-based Search Systems - Search the US Patent Database and Trademark Acceptable Identification of Goods and Services Manual.

• Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS) - TESS provides access to the same text and image database of trademarks as currently provided to examining attorneys at the USPTO via the X-Search system.

• USPTO Web Patent Database - Full text of all US patents issued since January 1, 1976, and full-page images of each page of every US patent issued since 1790.

PTDLP Printed and Electronic Materials

• Patent and Trademark Depository Library Program - Describes the mission, history, and operation and services of the PTDLs

• Notes on Becoming a Patent and Trademark Library - Lists requirements for designation and obligations of PTDLs
  
  
• Core Collection List [PDF] Lists the basic resources held within every PTDL's collection
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• List of PTDL Libraries - List includes the address and telephone number of all current PTDLs
  
  
• Optical Disc Products at PTDLs - Provides information about optical disc products available at all PTDLs

• Patents: The Collection for All Reasons - Describes the ways in which this unique resource can be used.

• How to Conduct a Preliminary U.S. Patent Search: A Step by Step Strategy - Web Based Tutorial (36 minutes)

• The Seven-Step Strategy - Outlines a suggested procedure for patent searching

• Conducting a Trademark Search at a PTDL - Outlines a suggested procedure for trademark searching

Miscellaneous Publications and Helpful Documents

• USPTO Search Facilities Hours and Location
• International Patent Classification (IPC) System
• Patent Document Kind Codes
• International Schedule of Classes of Goods and Services

Disclaimer: PTDLs are neither required nor encouraged to conduct patent and trademark searches for their patrons as that activity may be interpreted as rendering a judgment or opinion. PTDLs are required to instruct patrons in the use of the search tools available at the PTDLs for patrons conducting their own patent and trademark searches.

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