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Intellectual Property Research Guide: Introduction

Introduction

This guide provides an overview of the many sources of intellectual property resources available to patrons at the Louis L. Biro Law Library at the UIC Law.

Intellectual property (IP) includes

  • copyrights,
  • patents,
  • trademarks,
  • unfair competition, and trade secrets. 

In some cases, either one's UIC Law username and password or LexisNexis or Westlaw username and password are needed for database access.

Online Services

Hein Online

HeinOnline has a specific Intellectual Property Library, allowing for searching across all of Hein's IP information including

  • More than 100 legislative histories, including a complete history of copyright laws from 1909 to date
  • More than 400 books
  • Code of Federal Regulations Title 37
  • U.S. Code Titles 17 & 35
  • Manual of Patent Examining Procedure
  • More than 50 journals
  • Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure

Bloomberg

Bloomberg Law's Patents & Trade Secrets Practice Center has many resources and tools.

  • Patent Dockets
  • Patent Opinions & Decisions
  • Trackers
  • Practical Guidance
  • Agency Materials

General

Intellectual Property materials are generally found in the call number range KF2971-KF3193.

Books are on 10 or in Academic Success on 6 (and in rare cases, on reserve on 6).

Related Subject Headings include:

Intellectual property -- United States

Copyright -- United States

Patent laws and legislation -- United States

Patents -- United States

License agreements -- United States

Patent licenses -- United States

Trademarks -- Law and legislation -- United States

Trade secrets -- United States

Request a Research Appointment

Need more help? Reference librarians are available to meet with students in one-on-one sessions (or in small groups) to discuss research strategies, recommend relevant resources or review specific topics of legal research. 

Contact law-library@uic.edu with the subject you're researching and when you would like to meet. A librarian will get back to you to set up an appointment. You can also schedule an appointment on the library homepage by clicking "Schedule an Online Research Appointment." We ask that you request your appointment at least 2 days in advance, but remember that you can always stop by the reference desk for immediate help with a quick research question.

Some of the IP Academic Success Books

The library has many IP-related study guides in the Academic Success collection on the 6th Floor. Check nearby call numbers to find them all.