The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is the federal agency for granting U.S. patents and registering trademarks. In doing this, the USPTO fulfills the mandate of Article I, Section 8, Clause 8, of the Constitution that the legislative branch "promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries." The USPTO registers trademarks based on the commerce clause of the Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3). Under this system of protection, American industry has flourished. New products have been invented, new uses for old ones discovered, and employment opportunities created for millions of Americans. The strength and vitality of the U.S. economy depends directly on effective mechanisms that protect new ideas and investments in innovation and creativity. The continued demand for patents and trademarks underscores the ingenuity of American inventors and entrepreneurs. The USPTO is at the cutting edge of the nation's technological progress and achievement.
The USPTO advises the president of the United States, the secretary of commerce, and U.S. government agencies on intellectual property (IP) policy, protection, and enforcement; and promotes the stronger and more effective IP protection around the world. The USPTO furthers effective IP protection for U.S. innovators and entrepreneurs worldwide by working with other agencies to secure strong IP provisions in free trade and other international agreements. It also provides training, education, and capacity building programs designed to foster respect for IP and encourage the development of strong IP enforcement regimes by U.S. trading partners.
The Teachers and Classrooms Division and the Students and Learners Division in the Office of Public Engagement of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) provide educational and outreach programming for students, educators, young inventors, and innovators of all ages. They support the mission of the USPTO by providing relevant intellectual property, innovation, and invention resources to school administrators, teachers, students, and parents, and have a robust outreach program that supports many community-based invention and innovation programs.
We suggest calling ahead of your visit for hours of operation, services, and fees. Please make sure you’re familiar with and abide by our USPTO removable media policy when visiting a USPTO location. This policy pertains exclusively to connecting or inserting removable media devices to USPTO IT equipment and applies to both visitors and USPTO employees at all USPTO locations across the country.
The United States Patent and Trademark Office designates libraries across the country and U.S. territories as Patent and Trademark Resource Centers (PTRCs), which offer public access to products and services, patent and trademark training, and reference assistance and outreach.
To contact the USPTO offices and business centers, visit their Contact Us Page.
Visit the Search Tool on the USPTO website to find your nearest PTRC.
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) launched the Inventor Collectible Trading Card Series in 2012 at the USA Science and Engineering Festival. The cards feature caricatures of various inventors and are designed to recognize patent holders from diverse backgrounds and demographics to encourage and inspire future generations of diverse inventors and innovators.
