December 17, 1999
#99-48

KIDS PAGES

PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE UPDATES KIDS' PAGES ON WEB SITE FOR WINTER FUN

PRESS RELEASE

The Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) has updated its Web pages devoted to children for the winter season. PTO's Kids' Pages provide patent and trademark information in a language that children can understand and will expose future inventors and entrepreneurs to the inventive thinking process in a positive, fun environment.

Have you ever wondered what the designer's conception of a snowboard boot or a sled suit looked like? Or maybe your mouth has watered for frozen yogurt, an ice cream sandwich or a freeze pop. But have you ever thought about who invented these? Visit PTO's Kids' Pages for patent and trademark facts on these very items plus many more. The primary purpose is to stimulate children's interest in innovation and intellectual property protection and its role in our national history and economy. And why not have a little fun. The three target audiences for these kids web pages are children kindergarten through 6 ^th grade; children in 6 ^th grade through 12 ^th grade; and parents, teachers and coaches.

"PTO's goal with the Kids' Pages is to reach out to our future and provide children with the tools they need, sparking growth in intellectual property for years to come," said Q. Todd Dickinson, Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks.

PTO's Kids' Pages include a welcome from Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks, Q. Todd Dickinson, patent and trademark facts, a daily calendar of patents and trademarks, educational stories and games, and links to other federal government kids' pages. For more information, visit the PTO Kids' Page web site: http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/ahrpa/opa/kids/kidtheme.htm

The PTO is the Commerce Department's user fee-funded bureau that administers laws relevant to granting patents and registering trademarks; advises the Secretary of Commerce, the President of the United States, and the Administration on patent, trademark and copyright protection; and advises the Secretary of Commerce, the President of the United States, and the Administration on the trade-related aspects of intellectual property. Over 6 million patents have been issued since the first patent in 1790. Last year PTO issued 161,000 patents and registered 104,000 trademarks.

# # #