Michigan Pro Bono Patent Project

This program is a partnership of the State Bar of Michigan Justice Initiatives Committee and the Intellectual Property Law Section.

The Patent Project is now accepting applications for pro bono assistance if you are a Michigan resident, have filed a provisional application, and are income eligible for pro bono services. If you believe you are eligible, please complete and submit the Service Request Form, below.

• A provisional application must have already been filed with the USPTO
• Accepted Applications
• Filing a non-provisional
• Responding to a non-final office action
• Please review the income eligibility chart here! PDF
• NOT Accepted Applications
  • Assistance with prosecution of international patent applications
  • Clearance of freedom to operate
  • Copyrights
  • Licensing, transfer, enforcement, disputes
  • Patentability analysis
  • Prior art searching
  • Trademarks
  • Design Patents
  • Plant Patents

Pro Bono Attorney Registration Form

• USPTO’s patent process overview
• Types of Applications
• Fees and Payment
• Patent Tools and Links

• Know Your Rights –Scam Prevention
• Know Your Rights - Recognizing Common Scams 
• Patent Pro Bono Program
• Law School Clinic
• Pro Se Assistance Program
• Inventor and Entrepreneur Resources
• Certificate Training Course (This is the training program referred to in Question #8 of the Michigan Patent Pro Bono Service Request Form)
• Provisional Application Description
• Manual of Patent Examining Procedure—Content of Applications
• Non-Provisional Patent Application Description

Nationwide Patent Resources PDF