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    Patents
                            The Forest Service Patent Program provides guidance to agency scientists on all aspects of intellectual property protection. The Program’s emphases are provisional application filing and seeking a development partner and/or extensive marketing prior to a decision to file the non-provisional patent.The program goals are to file provisional patent applications and involve the inventing scientist in finding a cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) partner prior to filing a utility patent. This process includes working with the USDA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program.Reducing the technology-to-practice timeline through a CRADA greatly increases the opportunity for successful development. The Patent Program conducts prior art searches to evaluate the patentability and prepares all needed paperwork for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.The Patent Program also oversees contract law firms that draft utility patent applications (applications are filed by USDA Office of General Counsel), and files and prosecutes applications in the Patent Office.Draft patent licenses are prepared by the Forest Service Patent Program and signed by the Agriculture Research Service Office of Technology Transfer. Forest Service commercial licenses are royalty-based only with a priority toward making the technology available for internal Forest Service management use along with industry support.Federal Laboratory Consortium offers a listing of Forest Service patents eligible for licensing or partnerships through its Technologies tabPatent & Licensing ProgramThe Forest Service Patent & Licensing Program supports and manages the following areas:Pre-Invention ActivitiesHelps researchers to determine best technology transfer method e.g. agreements, patents (both Provisional and Non-Provisional application), and publicationsPerforms patent and literature (prior art) searchesReviews all Forest Service invention disclosures - both solely and jointly ownedPrepares all document needed for the applicationPatent Prosecution ActivitiesGuides Forest Service inventors through the patent process, filing and prosecutionServes as a liaison between Forest Service inventors, contract law firms and the United States Patent and Trademark OfficeWorks with the USDA OGC to prepare, file and prosecution of patent applicationsVerifies ownership and prepares declaration, application data sheet, information disclosure document and assignment documentsLicensing & Marketing ActivitiesWorks with scientist to Find appropriate partner/approach to transfer Forest Service patented technology for the benefit of the National Forest SystemAssists with Cooperative Research and Development Agreements and other Technology Transfer Agreements to further develop technologiesNegotiates and prepares licenses between Forest Service, universities, and/or industryAdditional Intellectual Property ActivitiesProvides trademark assistanceHandles copyright issuesDeals with software questionsHelps with technology transfer ethicsFor more information, contact Tom Moreland, Forest Service Technology Transfer Coordinator
                            Last updated February 7, 2024
	

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