PORTLAND – The Maine Patent Program presents a workshop for inventors and others interested in patenting inventions called “Patent Basics: How to Patent Your Invention.”

This workshop will address what types of inventions are subject to patent protection, the practical steps to obtain a patent and how one can perform searches on their own invention.

The workshop will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16, at the University of Maine School of Law, in Room 131 at 246 Deering Ave. in Portland.

The speaker is Dr. Thomas Maas, patent adviser to the Maine Patent Program. Maas, a registered patent agent before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, holds a unique background in innovative research and development, business development and intellectual property management. His experience includes laboratory careers with IBM, Exxon and Amoco, developing technology that resulted in the issuance of numerous patents.

The seminar is free and open to the public, but advance registration is recommended. To register, people may send e-mail with their contact information to [email protected] and specify “Register for Seminar Feb 16” in the e-mail subject line, or call 207-874-6521.