What is a “provisional patent”?

A provisional patent is a type of patent application that is filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in Washington. It is an inexpensive, temporary protection for inventors who want to protect their ideas and inventions. The provisional patent is not examined by the USPTO, and it does not provide any actual patent rights. A provisional patent application is typically used when an inventor wants to test the market for their invention before investing in a non-provisional patent application. With a provisional patent application, inventors can mark their invention with “patent pending,” which gives them some legal protection against someone stealing their idea. Provisional patent applications also give inventors up to one year to decide if they want to pursue a non-provisional patent application. Filing a provisional patent application is a relatively simple process, but there are a few key steps an inventor should take when filing one. First, the inventor must conduct a thorough patent search to make sure their invention is unique and not already protected by a patent. Then, they must write a thorough description of their invention and how it works. Finally, they must file with the USPTO. With a provisional patent, inventors in Washington can protect their ideas and inventions in a cost-effective and temporary way. Although it does not provide the same level of protection as a non-provisional patent application, it can still be a useful tool for inventors looking to test the market and protect their invention.

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What is a “provisional patent”?

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