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The American Inventors Protection Act of 1999 cast the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) as a performance-based organization. This recasting permits the USPTO to run its operations in a more business-like manner. One of the first initiatives of the Office of Independent Inventor Programs was to release information on CD-ROM for two purposes: one, to empower the independent inventor to patent inventions or register trademarks, and two, to foster an environment of collaboration between inventor and the USPTO.
Independent Inventor is a two-hour program that informs novice inventors about intellectual property protection and helps them to prepare for patent protection and federal registration of their trademarks. The design of the program is set within a user-friendly environment in the hopes of encouraging the independent inventor to apply for a patent or trademark, as well as eliminate any intimidating feelings the first-time inventor might have with respect to the overall patent and trademark process.
