Skip to main content
Free legal service for low income inventors
⚙️

Free legal service for low income inventors

Phone number
(415) 775-7200
Category
Auto tags
legal
low income
inventors
USPTO Program
pro bono
small businesses
Eligibility
Financially under-resourced independent inventors and small businesses
Auto Summary
The California Inventors Assistance Program (CIAP) is a pro bono program established by the USPTO to provide free legal services to financially under-resourced inventors and small businesses. The program is administered by California Lawyers for the Arts (CLA) and covers California, Hawaii, Alaska, Oregon, and Nevada. Legal fees are waived, but filing fees and other costs remain the inventor's responsibility. Note: The original program URL has moved; the current page is at calawyersforthearts.org/california-inventors-assistance-program-ciap-cla/.
Value
$
Espanol
Servicio legal gratuito para inventores de bajos ingresos - El Programa de Asistencia para Inventores de California (CIAP) ofrece servicios legales gratuitos a inventores independientes y pequenas empresas con recursos limitados. Los honorarios legales son gratuitos, pero otros costos como tarifas de presentacion son responsabilidad del inventor.
URL
https://calawyersforthearts.org/california-inventors-assistance-program-ciap-cla/
Under Section 32 of the “America Invents Act,” the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) established a new pro bono program, the California Inventors Assistance Program, designed to assist financially under-resourced independent inventors and small businesses.
CLA was selected as the statewide Administrator of the program throughout California to process pro bono intakes in conjunction with the USPTO. The CIAP also currently provides services to six western U.S. states (Hawaii, Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California and Nevada).
See this LINK for information from the USPTO about pro bono services for patent applicants.
This article published in the Managing IP profiles the CIAP and other pro bono patent programs.
USPTO Pro Bono Program
- American Bar Association article on how the USPTO's regional pro bono programs are working for independent inventors and small businesses.
To Begin a CIAP Referral:
  • Complete the Referral Request located at this link. This application and a financial screening application with supporting documentation is required for members of the inventor community seeking pro bono CIAP assistance.
  • CLICK HERE for a 39 minute, 30-module informational video/certification program: "Basic Patent Training for Independent Inventors and Small Businesses." Independent inventor applicants are required to review and complete this video material PRIOR to receiving assistance under the CIAP.
Please note this assistance may
NOT
be free. This financial assistance only means
legal fees
will be waived by the attorneys working on your matter. There may be other fees and costs associated with your matter that you will be responsible for paying
such as filing fees, copying fees, search fees, etc. The attorneys helping you will not be able to pay these fees on your behalf.
© Copyright 2015 Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP. Reproduced with Permission.