by Van Pelt and Opie Library
National Flash Drive Day occurs on April 5, the day the patent application for flash drives was filed in the U.S. In many years this coincides with National Library Week. To celebrate, the Van Pelt and Opie Library is handing out one free flash drive to the first 150 lucky patrons. Each flash drive contains a file directing users to an interactive patent that explores various parts of a patent document. Check it out for yourself at the library’s Patent & Trademark guide.
National Flash Drive Day is a great opportunity to highlight the “first to file” concept that the United States moved to in 2013. We celebrate this invention on April 5 because this is the day that the patent for the USB flash drive was filed in the United States. Since 2013, a patent’s filing date has been recognized by the USPTO as the date an invention belongs to the inventors. Though this law wasn’t in effect when the patent for the flash drive was filed in 2000, this shines a light on the fascinating complexities of intellectual property (IP) law and the importance of learning its intricacies for entrepreneurs.
If you have IP questions, Michigan Tech’s Patent and Trademark Resource Center (PTRC) is a great first stop for finding answers. The Van Pelt and Opie Library is home to the Upper Peninsula’s only PTRC. Each of the 83+ PTRCs in the nation is part of a nationwide network of public, state, and academic libraries designated by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to support the public with trademark and patent assistance.
For more information or to make an appointment, email library@mtu.edu and a representative will assist you remotely.