Arts + Biz Council is now providing entrepreneurs with patent attorneys

If you’re an entrepreneur launching a new venture or nonprofit and can’t afford a patent attorney to make sure you’re in the clear, Arts + Business Council of Greater Philadelphia has some good news for you: The nonprofit is introducing a program called PA Patent that will get you those services for free.

As part of a national effort on behalf of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Council tapped attorneys from its own Philadelphia Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts program to jumpstart the initiative, which the organization claims will be the “the first and only hub of pro bono patent resources” for the state.*

The program is aimed at “under-resourced inventors, makers, startups and nonprofits.”

“PA Patent helps ensure the best, most creative ideas have the legal protections they need to thrive, and everyone — from startups to the maker movement — is behind this effort to secure the intellectual property of innovators on the cutting edge,” said Executive Director Karin Copeland.

Here’s the thing: You can’t just walk in with a loose concept and expect legal services. To be eligible, participants must be a Pennsylvania resident, meet “income eligibility requirements” and boast a “general knowledge” of how the patent system works.

*Editor’s note: We learned soon after publishing that the Corzo Center has been offering free patent attorney advising, too.