An overview of intellectual property types (patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets), why protecting intellectual property is important, and some U.S. Patent and Trademark Office resources.
Attendees should have basic mastery of keyboard/mouse skills and familiarity with Internet browsing to best appreciate and benefit from the course.
This course will be held via Zoom (virtual meeting). Links will be sent to registered participants in advance.
How to build a patent searching strategy and an introduction to the USPTO's Patent Public Search and Lens.org.
Attendees should have basic mastery of keyboard/mouse skills and familiarity with Internet browsing and searching to best appreciate and benefit from the course.
This course will be held via Zoom (virtual meeting). Links will be sent to registered participants in advance.
The USPTO administers the Patent and Trademark Resource Center Program, a national network of public, state, and academic libraries designated as Patent and Trademark Resource Centers (PTRC), authorized by 35 U.S.C. 12 to:
Fondren Library's PTRC is part of the Kelley Center for Government Information, located in the basement.
PTRC staff can provide:
PTRC staff CANNOT conduct patent or trademark searches on anyone's behalf.
PTRC staff are not attorneys and CANNOT provide legal advice.
Visit the USPTO for legal assistance and resources.
Please check Fondren Library's event calendar for the next scheduled PTRC classes, always free and open to the public.
Call (713) 348-5483 and/or email govhelp@rice.edu to schedule an appointment with the PTRC Representative Hannah Edlund.
It is always best to contact the Kelley Center before visiting in-person; PTRC staff may not be available to assist you due to previous engagements. Please call (713) 348-5483 or email govhelp@rice.edu for an appointment, so we may prepare for your visit. We are located in Fondren Library's basement.
To locate the library and visitor parking lots, visit the Rice University campus maps webpage.
The best visitor parking lots for accessing Fondren Library are Founder's Court Lot (credit card payment only) or Central Campus Garage (cash and credit card payment).
View current parking rates and the facilities on this webpage.
Rice parking department: (713) 348-2020
Physical address for Rice University: 6100 Main St., Houston, TX 77005
Other PTRCs in the State of Texas (Please call ahead before visiting these PTRCs in person.)
The McKinney Engineering Library, University of Texas at Austin. Phone: 512-495-4503
Business Library & Collaboration Commons, Texas A&M University Libraries, College Station. Phone: 979-845-2111.
Dallas Public Library Phone: 214-670-1468
Texas Tech University Libraries Phone: 806-834-2632
San Antonio Public Library Phone: 210-207-2500