What you need to know about........ patents 
- University of NH School of Law- Basic IP Information & Much More
2. U.S. Patent and Trademark Office:Professor Thomas G. Field, Jr. clearly explains patent basics for artists, independent inventors, Internet authors and artists, programmers, and small business owners. Publications include:
A. So You Have an Idea
• What you should know about invention promotion firms
• The need for a prior art search
• What is the value of the PTO document disclosure program?
B. Seeking Cost Effective Patents
Clear, practical advice on:
• Evaluating Potential Profitability
• Controlling Patent Costs in the Face of Market Uncertainty
• Preparing Applications, Seeking Assignees
• Prosecuting, Maintaining & Enforcing Patents
C. Avoiding Patent, Trademark and Copyright Problems
The University of New Hampshire School of Law also has a tremendous amount of patent information beyond the basics.
A. Patent Office News 2/21/2011 - Unfortunately, the Patent Office is in need of modernization to improve their systems. This problem combined with the fact that applications are getting more complex and the sheer number of applications is growing quickly has created a big back log. In all, 1.2 million applications are pending and applications can sit for years before being reviewed. Read the full article at the NY Times
B. General Patent Information: The Patent and Trademark Office in Washington D. C. has a vast amount of information written for inventors explaining, for example:
• What is a patent?
• Who can apply for a patent?
• What can be patented?
C. Frequently Asked Questions
3. Patentnow.com Blog with articles including:
• It Takes Two to Get Good Patents - 4/3/2011
• Patent Searching- What Does it Get You - Jan 2011
4. Use Google to Search Patents
Search over 7 million patents here!
5. Official List of Registered Patent Attorneys and Agents
The Patent and Trademark Office maintains a list of attorneys who have passed a special exam in the area of patent law. You will find Walter Tencza, Jr. in the listing
6. Lemelson- MIT Inventor's Handbook
Covers many areas starting with "What is Intellectual Property", "How Can I conduct a Patent Search", "How do I license my Invention" and more
