Examples should not be stapled, glued or taped to the application. Resources are available for Illinois residents to help inventors and entrepreneurs learn more about protecting their intellectual property.Explore our expert guide to patent filing in Chicago. Get practical tips and essential insights to protect your innovations effectively. Our Chicago trademark attorneys provide Illinois and USPTO (federal) trademark registration services to businesses of all sizes. Getting a patent in Illinois is the same as any other state. The patent application is filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The Pro Se Assistance Program is dedicated to help independent inventors and small businesses meet their goal of protecting valuable intellectual property. Some states, including Illinois, have their own trademark procedures for protecting names for goods or services used within the state. In Illinois, patents protect inventions, trademarks defend brands and logos, and copyrights secure original works of authorship.