Upper Midwest Jazzed Up About Pro Bono Expansion, IPWatchdog.com, April 2015

LegalCORPS Provides Pricey Patent Help for Free, Minnesota Business Magazine, April 2015

Philosophy of Invention, Inventors Eye, March 2015

Inventive Approach: Minnesota Lawyers Offer Assistance Program for Inventors, Minnesota Business Magazine, February 2014

Pro Bono Pilot Program MN Helps Independent Inventors Gain Patent Counsel, Inventors Eye, August 2011

Innovative Help for Innovators, Minnesota Business Magazine, June 2011

Pro Bono: What they are saying, USPTO website
Resources: Learn more about the LegalCORPS IAP USPTO Patent Pro Bono Information Patent Law Pro Bono: A Best Practices Handbook, (with Privratsky, Mark R.) (2013) Cybaris®: Vol. 4: Iss. 1, Article 1. INCLUDES VIDEO

Our team helped a local entrepreneur take her idea straight to the big leagues. Susan Moores is responsible for the creation of Roots for the Home Team, a local nonprofit that brings the bounty produced at Twin Cities youth gardens to hungry Minnesota Twins fans at Target Field.

According to Susan: “Roots for the Home Team began as an idea that something cool could happen if we partnered with youth garden programs, purchased the foods they grew, tapped into their bright brains to create delicious salad recipes, then had the youth sell their salad creations to a major league audience. It’s been a home run. Incredible things have sprouted from this venture.” Susan contacted our firm in 2010, needing assistance with the various agreements that were necessary to put the Twin’s stadium program in place. Our team also helped her with trademark registrations and referred her to a trusted business law firm to handle setting up a 501(c)(3). “They were so supportive at a time when I had a lot of doors closing on this idea,” recalls Susan. “They were always very encouraging — that fist pump when you needed it. It was reassuring to know that they had my back, and still do.”

For Susan, the dream has always been to have a program like Roots at every ballpark in America. Since it’s inception, Roots has expanded to include the University of Minnesota Gophers Football games and has projects with Minneapolis Public Schools, The Wedge Co-op, Kowalski’s Markets and Izzy’s Ice Cream. The program also expanded this year with the addition of Appetite for Change a community-led organization in North Minneapolis whose core effort is to encourage urban agriculture.

The Works is an engineering museum for kids and their families. With exhibits focusing on electricity, simple mechanics, sensors and more, the museum provides an engaging and inspiring experience for the next generation of engineers (and possible patent attorneys). Our attorneys have also had some fun at The Works. The firm has sponsored its annual fall fundraiser called Build it Bash, which involves a fort-building competition. While our team has yet to take home a win, our attorneys enjoyed the challenge and the opportunity to put some of their engineering training to work. Learn more about The Works at www.theworks.org.