Here’s how to get free patent attorney advising from the Corzo Center

Inventors, entrepreneurs and the like — there are actually two free patent advisory programs you should know about.

We reported last week that the Arts + Business Council is launching a pro bono patent program in concert with a national effort led by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

PA Patent will be aimed at “under-resourced inventors, makers, startups and nonprofits” who already have a viable product, meet income eligibility requirements and have a general understanding of how the patent system works.

If you’re outside of those limitations, you still have options.

The Corzo Center at the University of the Arts has been offering free patent attorney advising and resources to the public for over two years now with “no state requirement, no application required, no income eligibility requirements, and no general knowledge needed,” according to manager Todd Hestand.

“The Corzo Center offers our Entrepreneur Office Hours (EOH) program as part of our commitment to helping artists be financially sustainable,” Hestand said. “Within our scope of engagement, we found that stand-alone lectures are interesting, but left a void of ‘and then?’ questions by the participants.”

So, the Center developed the EOH program in order to directly address some of those immediate questions face-to-face. And, believe it or not (you probably believe it), patent law is a pretty prevalent question.

Here why some folks might not be aware the patent advising offer exists: The service is nowhere to be found on the EOH list of scheduled consulting services. Instead, the Center offers patent consulting as an on-demand service to folks who make the inquiry.

Those in need of free patent advising pronto should shoot an email to corzocenter@uarts.edu to get paired with an able consultant.

“Cool, huh?” Hestand said.

Very cool.