USPTO hoping for some iconic collaboration

Agency-sponsored hackathons and datapaloozas are old hat, but how about an iconathon?

That's what the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is hosting on Aug. 28, with the goal of creating "a set of internationally recognizable icons that will help increase communication around intellectual property." Concepts in need of iconification include infringement, trade secrets, prior art, inventions, counterfeiting and several different types of patents.

And while USPTO's mission centers on securing and protecting intellectual property, any icons that come out of the five-hour session will be released into the public domain.

The agency is collaborating with the Noun Project -- a firm devoted to building a global library of icons and symbols that has been holding iconathons since 2011. AIGA DC, an association for design professionals, and Code for NOVA, a local offshoot of Code for America, are also participating.

USPTO Deputy Director Russ Sliffer will give a talk on intellectual property, and participants will then work in small groups that include both designers and IP experts -- the invitation stresses that "everyone will be able to participate and contribute – no art skills necessary!"

More details and an RSVP form can be found on the USPTO website.