What is a “provisional patent”?

A provisional patent is a type of patent application that is used mainly in the United States. It is intended to provide applicants with the opportunity to formally put their idea down on paper and establish a filing date in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). In North Carolina, a provisional patent is not a legally binding document, but it allows you to claim the idea as yours at the time of filing. A provisional patent also serves as a placeholder for what could become a full-fledged patent at a later date. The main purpose of a provisional patent in North Carolina is to give inventors the opportunity to protect their intellectual property. After filing for a provisional patent, an applicant has one year to decide whether they would like to pursue the patent any further. During this time, applicants can experience the process without having to fully commit to the process and invest in the costs associated with a regular patent application. Provisional patents in North Carolina also offer an advantage for inventors to demonstrate proof of invention to potential investors or manufacturers that may want to help bring the product to market. All in all, the provisional patent application is a valuable tool for inventors to protect their ideas in the process of their development.

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What is a “provisional patent”?

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