On Wednesday, July 17, 2019, the Jones Robb team, including attorneys, staff, and our summer interns, visited the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO). The firm’s annual tour of the PTO was coordinated by the PTO’s Office of Education and Outreach and offered various opportunities to learn about PTO history and operations. Our first stop on the tour was a visit to the Inventors Hall of Fame and Museum, where we tested our ability to distinguish between trademarked consumer products and copycat products. One of the highlights of the tour was a presentation by an employee of the Office of Policy and International Affairs, who discussed the PTO’s efforts to coordinate with various foreign countries. One presentation detailed the many activities the PTO engages in to encourage young inventors, such as STEM activities. The day concluded with a group activity in which we were separated into teams. Each team was tasked with designing a product to solve an existing problem, creating a trademark and slogan for our new product, and pitching our new product to the other teams. Our Jones Robb teams invented new products ranging from motorcycle helmets to car windshields. Many thanks to the PTO and its Office of Education and Outreach for a fun and educational day!
