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Resources
for Inventors and IP Professionals

IPO Education Foundation provides information to help make the intellectual property (IP) system accessible to all. This resource page collects information from various sources for those looking to learn more about IP. The information provided on this website, however, does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. All information, content, and materials available are for general informational purposes only.

IPO Education Foundation strives to create partnerships with like-minded organizations to have a greater impact about the value of intellectual property protection. (More information below.) If you’re interested in learning more about the Foundation or how to partner, please contact Foundation@ipo.org.

IP Diagnostics Tool

With WIPO IP Diagnostics you can undertake a basic diagnostic of the intellectual property (IP) situation of your business. It is in the form of a questionnaire with several sections that will ask you questions on different IP topics.

Step 1: Input basic questions regarding your business in the Pre-assessment

Step 2: Continue by clicking on the relevant sections based on your previous responses

Step 3: Develop your strategy based on the results!

Get Started Using the Tool

Inventor Resources

Inventor Assistance Program

The Inventor Assistance Program (IAP) – a WIPO initiative in cooperation with the World Economic Forum – is the first global program to match developing country inventors and small businesses with limited financial means with patent attorneys. These experts provide pro bono legal assistance to help inventors secure patent protection.

 

Patent Probono Program

The Patent Probono Advisory Council assists the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office with the administration of patent pro bono programs across the United States. There are 22 programs around the U.S. that match under-resourced inventors with top quality volunteer patent attorneys or patent agents who ensure critical inventions are not lost because of an inventor’s inability to afford quality counsel.

Teachers and Students

Hot Topics in IP

Learn IP fundamentals and the key issues being debated today.

Lessons in IP Strategy

An eight-week micro course challenge.

Business Resources

Women and diverse employees have the technical skill and knowledge, yet their contributions are not patented at the same rate as those of their male counterparts. These statistics suggest that our organizations may not be capturing the full contribution of a large segment of our technical workforce – resulting in significant lost opportunity costs. This toolkit can help organizations move the needle on achieving gender parity in innovation.

This Law Firm Complement is a tool for outside lawyers as well as other organizations to help their clients become familiar with and more easily navigate the Toolkit. In the process of helping clients to use the Toolkit, law firms will likely improve their client relationships, develop deeper relationships with their clients, have a better understanding of their clients and their clients’ cultures, be part of the client transitioning process, and help younger lawyers have speaking opportunities.

Additional Resources

Ask Me Anything about IP

IPOEF Vice President, Phyllis Turner-Brim answers questions from guidelines around patenting an invention to how to protect a brand from infringement.

IP and SME’s: Taking Your Idea to Market

Learn from three different innovators how to bring ideas to market: an inventor who licenses their invention, a company who seeks to license ideas, and an inventor who builds a business around their idea.

Ask me Anything about IP

IPOEF Board Member Louis Foreman advises about the invention process and addresses common questions about how to protect intellectual property. Questions such as: “What are the most significant challenges to obtain a patent?” and “What is the difference between a trademark and a design patent?”