By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) is presenting a free webinar May 21, 2015, to identify resources to help applicants secure legal representation and assistance with patent filings. The webinar runs from 2:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. (EDT) and is especially intended to assist independent inventors and those interested in learning more about the patent system and services offered by the PTO. Highlights include the following topics:

• Availability of free attorney representation in nearly all states for under-resourced independent inventors and small businesses in filing and prosecuting patent applications through the Patent Pro Bono Program.

• Availability of free assistance in drafting and filing either patent or trademark applications through various law school clinics across the country.

• Resources for inventors to learn about the patent application process and how to file their own applications as pro se applicants (i.e., without legal representation).

For more information and to access the webinar, visit the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office website.

For additional resources beyond the webinar, visit the following websites:

• Patent Pro Bono Program
• Law School Clinic
• Pro Se Assistance Program
• Inventor and Entrepreneur Resources

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) is presenting a free webinar May 21, 2015, to identify resources to help applicants secure legal representation and assistance with patent filings. The webinar runs from 2:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. (EDT) and is especially intended to assist independent inventors and those interested in learning more about the patent system and services offered by the PTO. Highlights include the following topics:

• Availability of free attorney representation in nearly all states for under-resourced independent inventors and small businesses in filing and prosecuting patent applications through the Patent Pro Bono Program.

• Availability of free assistance in drafting and filing either patent or trademark applications through various law school clinics across the country.

• Resources for inventors to learn about the patent application process and how to file their own applications as pro se applicants (i.e., without legal representation).

For more information and to access the webinar, visit the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office website.

For additional resources beyond the webinar, visit the following websites:

• Patent Pro Bono Program
• Law School Clinic
• Pro Se Assistance Program
• Inventor and Entrepreneur Resources

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) is presenting a free webinar May 21, 2015, to identify resources to help applicants secure legal representation and assistance with patent filings. The webinar runs from 2:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. (EDT) and is especially intended to assist independent inventors and those interested in learning more about the patent system and services offered by the PTO. Highlights include the following topics:

• Availability of free attorney representation in nearly all states for under-resourced independent inventors and small businesses in filing and prosecuting patent applications through the Patent Pro Bono Program.

• Availability of free assistance in drafting and filing either patent or trademark applications through various law school clinics across the country.

• Resources for inventors to learn about the patent application process and how to file their own applications as pro se applicants (i.e., without legal representation).

For more information and to access the webinar, visit the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office website.

For additional resources beyond the webinar, visit the following websites:

• Patent Pro Bono Program
• Law School Clinic
• Pro Se Assistance Program
• Inventor and Entrepreneur Resources

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation to allow the issuance, at the option of the vehicle owner, of only a single rear-mounted license plate died when the legislature adjourned for the year.

Legislation to allow the issuance, at the option of the vehicle owner, of only a single rear-mounted license plate died when the legislature adjourned for the year. The bill had not been given committee consideration. The bill sought to protect the aesthetic contours of vehicles and relieve vehicle owners of the burden and expense of having to create mounting holes on some original bumpers. The measure also would have saved money, conserved resources and brought Washington in line with other states that are moving to a single plate requirement.

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation to allow the issuance, at the option of the vehicle owner, of only a single rear-mounted license plate died when the legislature adjourned for the year.

Legislation to allow the issuance, at the option of the vehicle owner, of only a single rear-mounted license plate died when the legislature adjourned for the year. The bill had not been given committee consideration. The bill sought to protect the aesthetic contours of vehicles and relieve vehicle owners of the burden and expense of having to create mounting holes on some original bumpers. The measure also would have saved money, conserved resources and brought Washington in line with other states that are moving to a single plate requirement.

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation to allow the issuance, at the option of the vehicle owner, of only a single rear-mounted license plate died when the legislature adjourned for the year.

Legislation to allow the issuance, at the option of the vehicle owner, of only a single rear-mounted license plate died when the legislature adjourned for the year. The bill had not been given committee consideration. The bill sought to protect the aesthetic contours of vehicles and relieve vehicle owners of the burden and expense of having to create mounting holes on some original bumpers. The measure also would have saved money, conserved resources and brought Washington in line with other states that are moving to a single plate requirement.

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The Joint Environment and Natural Resources Committee did not approve legislation to amend the law regarding ethanol-blended gasoline.

Legislation to amend the law regarding ethanol-blended gasoline to provide that a sales and distribution prohibition would take effect if only three other states had enacted similar laws was not approved by the Joint Environment and Natural Resources Committee. Under current Maine law, 10 other states or a number of states with a collective population of 30 million must enact a similar prohibition before the Maine law goes into effect.

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The Joint Environment and Natural Resources Committee did not approve legislation to amend the law regarding ethanol-blended gasoline.

Legislation to amend the law regarding ethanol-blended gasoline to provide that a sales and distribution prohibition would take effect if only three other states had enacted similar laws was not approved by the Joint Environment and Natural Resources Committee. Under current Maine law, 10 other states or a number of states with a collective population of 30 million must enact a similar prohibition before the Maine law goes into effect.

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The Joint Environment and Natural Resources Committee did not approve legislation to amend the law regarding ethanol-blended gasoline.

Legislation to amend the law regarding ethanol-blended gasoline to provide that a sales and distribution prohibition would take effect if only three other states had enacted similar laws was not approved by the Joint Environment and Natural Resources Committee. Under current Maine law, 10 other states or a number of states with a collective population of 30 million must enact a similar prohibition before the Maine law goes into effect.

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple signed into law a heavily amended bill that originally sought to increase the population of vehicles prohibited from modifying the manufacturer's original suspension, steering or brake system.

A bill that originally sought to increase the population of vehicles prohibited from modifying the manufacturer's original suspension, steering or brake system was heavily amended, approved by the North Dakota State Legislature and signed into law by Governor Jack Dalrymple. The new law makes major changes to the state’s modified vehicle law and extends the law to all registered vehicles in the state. The previous law applied only to vehicles weighing 7,000 lbs. or less.

In addition to extending the application of the law, the bill also reduces the severity of a modified vehicle violation. These violations are now similar to a traffic ticket and earn violators only one point on their license. Additionally, the bill removes the crime of “operating a modified vehicle" from the list for which law enforcement may take a driver into custody. Violators will now receive a summons and fine that they can pay or contest in court.

Some of the specifications that modified vehicles must meet were altered by the bill. Tires on modified vehicles must now be marked as required by the U.S. Department of Transportation and modified vehicles must meet the equipment requirements applicable to all vehicles registered in North Dakota. The bill removed a provision in the law that limited the maximum outside diameter for tires on modified vehicles to 44 in. and another section that limited the maximum lift in the suspension system of a modified vehicle to 4 in.

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.