What Is A Provisional Patent?
If you have a new idea for something, you may want to begin with a provisional patent application. This is an invention disclosure document that allows you to secure a priority date for a provisional application. With a provisional application, you do not need to meet all of the formal filing requirements of a non-provisional application. The formal requirements include formal drawings and specifications, among many other intricate details. Once you file a provisional patent, you are permitted to state that your invention has a patent pending. This provisional patent application lasts for 12 months from the date of filing. You should know what to do next to prevent losing the benefits of a provisional patent. What Is the Point of a Provisional Patent? Filing a provisional United States patent serves as a placeholder, allowing you to get an early filing date as you work on further development of your invention. Once your provisional application is filed, you can start securing the funding you need for a non-provisional application before the 12-month period ends. Another reason for filing a provisional application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office is that it can expedite the process. However, your provisional patent does not give you any legal rights regarding your invention. It only allows you to advertise your patent pending invention and secure an early filing date. You will eventually need to file a non-provisional patent application for your creation. Benefits of Provisional Patent Applications Filing a provisional application is ideal if you are trying to get the funding you need for your invention or you need more time to fine-tune your invention. One benefit of the provisional application is that it is simple. Another benefit [...]