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On May 4, 2020, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) launched its new online marketplace platform – Patents 4 Partnerships. The purpose of the Patents 4 Partnerships program is to provide a database of patent-related COVID-19 technologies that are available for licensing. This platform is part of the USPTO’s effort to bridge the gap between the patent system and the nation’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The USPTO’s hope is that the program will facilitate the licensing and commercialization of new products and technologies for the prevention, treatment, and diagnosis of COVID-19. “Patents 4 Partnerships is a meeting place that enables patent owners who want to license their IP rights to connect with the individuals and businesses who can turn those rights into solutions for our health and wellbeing,” Andrei Iancu, patent office director, said in a statement.

The Patents 4 Partnerships database allows users to view COVID-19 related technologies and search and sort those technologies by keyword, inventor name, assignee and issue date. Once in the platform, users can click on specific patents and access external links which lead them to licensing contacts for the particular technology. A link to the Patents 4 Partnerships database can be found here.

In addition to its Patents 4 Partnerships program, the USPTO has also extended certain patent and trademark deadlines to June 1. A copy of the full press release can be found here.