USPTO and NIST Release New Version of IP Awareness Assessment Tool

The U.S. Department of Commerce's Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) today unveiled an updated beta version of the web-based IP Awareness Assessment Tool, which is designed to help manufacturers, small businesses, entrepreneurs and independent inventors easily assess their knowledge of intellectual property (IP). 

"This Administration knows that American entrepreneurs have always focused on the next great idea that will grow our economy, create jobs and drive U.S. global competition," said Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Acting Director of the USPTO Teresa Stanek Rea. "The IP Awareness Assessment Tool will help educate independent inventors and small businesses on the intellectual property protections available to them as they seek to turn their ideas into reality and bring them to market." 

Intellectual property is a key concern of many small businesses owners who often do not know the extent of their IP assets. By assessing their need for IP protection and exercising the rights they hold to their innovations, businesses often secure significant competitive advantages.

The IP Awareness Assessment Tool enables users to measure and increase their awareness of IP issues, relevant to their creative projects and business goals. Users answer a comprehensive set of questions regarding IP, after which the tool provides a set of training resources tailored to specifically identified needs. The tool is available on USPTO’s website at www.uspto.gov/inventors/assessment/.

(Source: USPTO Press Release)