Patents R Us: Information and Services for Inventors and Patent Owners
Support Services for Patent Practitioners
The National Association of Patent Practitioners (NAPP) was organized in 1996 by 19 patent practitioners (patent agents and patent attorneys) who shared an interest in forming an organization focused on US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) procedures.
NAPP’s first annual meeting was in Williamsburg, Virginia in October of 1996, and their annual meetings follow a seminar format with presentations directed toward patent prosecution practice. Recently, an optional, one-day short course was added for patent practitioners with less than two years of experience. It serves as an orientation program for new practitioners.
NAPP supports its members by disseminating information to them via its newsletter, The Disclosure, as well as via its website and two e-mail discussion forums, the General Discussion Forum and the Patent Practice Forum. The General Discussion Forum provides a forum for members to discuss a variety of issues from member-to-member referrals to patent law reform. The Patent Practice Forum™ is focused strictly on patent practice issues and allows for an on-going daily discussion between members on issues related to practice before the US Patent Office.
The current focus of NAPP is to foster professionalism in the patent practitioner community and to aid patent agents and patent attorneys in staying current in matters relating to practice before the USPTO.
NAPP has voiced its opposition to the Patent Reform Act of 2009 (S. 515 and H.R. 1280) currently before Congress.