What is a Statement of Use?
A Statement of Use (SOU) is a document which is filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in order to register a patent in the state of Minnesota. The SOU is essentially a statement that the inventor has made actual use of the patent-protected invention. It includes a description of how the invention is used and any relevant photographs or diagrams. The SOU also includes a signed declaration by the inventor that they have made actual use of the patent-protected invention and are in compliance with federal patent law. The purpose of the SOU is to prove to the USPTO that the patent-protected invention is being used as intended. This statement serves as evidence that the invention is being used in a manner intended by the inventor and that the invention is still useful and has a marketable use. The SOU must be filed in order to register a patent in Minnesota. The process to file an SOU usually involves gathering the required documents such as contracts, drawings, licensing agreements, and other documents. Once these documents are gathered, the SOU must then be sent to the USPTO with all the required documents attached. After the SOU is received and reviewed, the USPTO will issue a registration number for the patent and the applicant will be able to start using the invention commercially. Filing a SOU is an important step in the patent registration process in Minnesota. It provides assurance that the inventor is in compliance with federal patent law and is using their invention as intended. It also serves as evidence to the USPTO that the patent-protected invention is being used and is still useful.
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