November 16, 2000
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Mississippi Inventor's Conference

USPTO PARTICIPATES IN MISSISSIPPI INVENTOR'S CONFERENCE

The U. S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Office of Independent Inventors (OIIP) is participating in the Mississippi Inventor's Conference, "Inventing the New Millennium," on Saturday, November 18, 2000 in Olive Branch, Mississippi. This one-day conference consists of various workshops for inventors and entrepreneurs. USPTO representatives will address conferees, describing the initiatives the USPTO is currently undertaking to establish new lines of communication, education and support systems for inventors/entrepreneurs.

In March of last year, the USPTO opened a new office aimed at meeting the special needs of independent inventors. OIIP establishes new mechanisms to better disseminate information about the patent and trademark processes and fosters regular communication between the USPTO and independent inventors. OIIP has a web site that offers educational and outreach programs for independent inventors, covering all aspects of the patent and trademark process, including how to file an application and what's patentable. The link for the web site is http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/com/iip/index.html .

About America's independent inventors, Q. Todd Dickinson, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office says, "We must do all we can to support and encourage them. They represent one of our nation's greatest natural resources." Continues Dickinson, "I want the USPTO to nurture this boundless creativity by simplifying their access to our patent system."

WHAT:	Mississippi Inventor's Conference "Inventing in the New Millennium"
WHEN:	Saturday, November 18, 2000 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
WHERE:	Whispering Woods Hotel and Conference Hotel 11200 East Goodman Road Olive Branch, MS 38654

For additional information visit http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/mssbdc or call 662-915-5001.

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