GRAND FORKS, ND - The University of North Dakota Chester Fritz Library is hosting a free seminar about researching patent and trademark information at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 1, in the IdeaLab of the UND Center for Innovation.

According to the University, the presentation will be given by Craig Morris, the managing attorney for Trademark Educational Outreach at the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

The seminar will discuss issues such as how trademarks, copyrights, patents, domain names and business name registrations all differ; why it is important for any new business to select a trademark that can be both federally registered and legally protected, highlighting factors critical when choosing a mark; the importance of doing a complete search and whether an attorney should be used; as well as many others.

The event is sponsored by United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Chester Fritz Library, the Small Business Development Center and the Center for Innovation.

Morris works within the Office of the Commissioner for Trademarks in the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in Alexandria, Va.  He is the managing attorney for Trademark Educational Outreach, spearheading the effort for increased USPTO educational activities in the area of trademark fundamentals.  Morris has been with the USPTO since 1983, previously serving as a law office examining attorney, senior attorney and managing attorney.