Patent and Trademark Resource Centers

Have you invented something wonderful? Do you want the world to know that you were the first one who created that wonderful thing? Do you want to start a small business to sell your invention, or some other wonderful thing? If so, a Patent and Trademark Resource Center (PTRC) may be able to help you learn about owning and registering those types of intellectual property:

http://www.uspto.gov/learning-and-resources/support-centers/patent-and-trademark-resource-centers-ptrcs

Before you file a new application, you'll want to search the existing patents and trademarks to make sure no one else has already claimed or registered the same thing. PTRCs can help you do that. Sadly, being the second or third person to invent the telephone isn't nearly as exciting as being the first.