The Inventor Assistance Program
In some countries, over half of pro se applicants are abandoned pre-substantive examination due to formalities. The Inventor Assistance Program (IAP) aims to support under-resourced inventors by providing patent specialists to guide them through the patent system, increasing the chances of a granted patent.
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Presentation Transcript
The Inventor Assistance Program PCT Working Group 11 June 2019 Marco M. Alem n Director, Patent Law Division
In some countries, more than half of pro se applicants are abandoned before substantive examination. Their applications get rejected purely based on formalities.
The Inventor Assistance Program (IAP) http://www.wipo.int/iap under-resourced inventor selected for the IAP inventor is matched with a patent specialist to navigate the patent system invention gets evaluated on its merits increasing the odds of a granted patent
Status of the IAP June 2019 2015 2016 44 6 118 pilot program formal launch inventions selected patents granted patent specialists http://www.wipo.int/iap/
HOW THE IAP WORKS H E L P I N G U N D E R R E S O U R C E D I N V E N T O R S P R O T E C T T H E I R I D E A S INVENTOR APPLICATION SCREENING BOARD REVIEW MATCHMAKING NATIONAL PATENT FILING AND PROCEDURE PCT INTERNATIONAL FILING PCT NATIONAL OR REGIONAL PHASE ENTRY
How Inventors qualify for the IAP basic knowledge of the patent system local resident of an IAP country income level eligible invention Colombia Morocco Philippines South Africa Ecuador varies by country existing patent application or online course roughly ~3X poverty level e.g. potential commercial impact
IAP Membership Pro bono Patent Specialists Help inventors navigate the patent system locally Advise inventors to secure patents abroad Update IAP on case status IAP participating countries Promote the IAP at the national level Select the inventors Support local innovators and attorneys Sponsors Promote the IAP Encourage patent specialists to join the program Support IAP initiatives
Patent Offices Drive Local IAP Programs NATIONAL AUTHORITY establish eligibility criteria and identify national focal point coordinate promotion to inventors and Patent Specialists receive IAP inquiries and applications coordinate matchmaking with WIPO NATIONAL SCREENING BOARD decides on IAP applications composed of different stakeholders, including from the patent office, R&D sector, agencies responsible for business relationship
Governance of the IAP STEERING COMMITEE adopts major decisions for the IAP provides strategic directions admission of new countries WIPO supports IAP countries in the program s implementation promotes the IAP globally maintains roster of volunteers matchmakes inventors-attorneys manages IAP webpage and online course for inventors
Leveraging the PCT to support under-resourced inventors to build global The IAP plugs domestic programs for inventors into patent families a global network of experts who provide support with PCT regional & national phase
WHATS NEEDED TO GROW THE IAP Potential Beneficiaries NEEDTORAISEAWARENESSABOUTTHEPATENT SYSTEMANDWHENTOUSEIT Current Beneficiaries INTERNATIONALPATENTPROTECTIONOF THEIRINVENTIONS Patent Profession ENHANCEPATENTDRAFTINGSKILLS
How Member States can join the IAP Send a letter of intent agreeing to abide with the Guiding Principles to WIPO with the following: statistics that illustrate potential for success # of local applicants who file without representation % of these applicants whose applications are rejected on procedural grounds (e.g. formalities, abandonments, failure to request exam) identify who will support the IAP within your country a national focal point, responsible for day-to-day management composition of a national screening board to evaluate applications supporting groups for patent searching and volunteers who will use the program and how will they find out about it eligibility criteria to access the program a commitment and plan for promoting the IAP nationally
