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12th Annual Independent Inventors Conference Comes to Raleigh, NC United States Patent and Trademark Office, the National Inventors Hall of Fame® Foundation and the NC State College of Textiles   WHAT 12th Annual Independent Inventors Conference, presented by the USPTO and the National Inventors Hall of Fameâ Foundation (NIHFF) in conjunction with North Carolina State University. WHO Inventors from the Raleigh – Durham area as well as nationwide. Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Deputy Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Margaret J.A. Peterlin, Deputy Commissioner for Patent Operations Peggy Focarino and other top USPTO officials will share insights on the latest developments in the intellectual property system and how inventors are affected. North Carolina's Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall will discuss her role in the creation of new businesses and law enforcement leadership in the fight against counterfeit brand-name products and pirating of protected intellectual property. Michael Sykes, a Wake Forest builder and winner of the 2007 Modern Marvels Invent Now® Challenge, will talk about his 25-year journey inventing a house that heats and cools itself without fuel or electricity. Also presenting will be Louis Foreman, successful inventor and CEO of Enventys and Everyday Edisons Productions. WHEN Friday, September 14, 8:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. Saturday, September 15, 8:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m. WHERE Centennial Campus - College of Textiles, North Carolina State University Raleigh, North Carolina WHY This conference will offer novice and seasoned inventors alike the rare opportunity to hear from government and industry experts on an array of topics including the basics of protecting your invention, free resources available to inventors, and how to avoid common inventor pitfalls. There will be ample time for attendees to network with experts and fellow inventors. HOW More information about the conference and online registration is available at http://www.uspto.gov/main/homepagenews/bak2007aug03a.htm. Media should contact Jennifer.Rankin_Byrne@uspto.gov or ruth.nyblod@uspto.gov for more information. There is no charge for media to attend the conference.