What is the difference between an issued patent and a published patent?

Patent law in Washington establishes a process to provide patent rights to inventors. When a new invention or process is created and meets the criteria, the inventor can apply for a patent. There are two kinds of patents that can be awarded: issued patents and published patents. An issued patent, also known as a granted patent, is one that has been approved by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). This means that the patent examiner has reviewed the application and determined that the invention meets the legal requirements for a patent. The inventor is then awarded the issued patent and has exclusive rights to the invention for a set period of time. A published patent is one that has been published for public viewing. Once an application for a patent is submitted to the USPTO, it is automatically published, meaning that anyone can view the patent information. It is important to note, however, that the inventor does not have any legal protection over the invention until the patent is actually issued. In conclusion, the main difference between an issued patent and a published patent is that an issued patent has been approved by the USPTO, meaning the inventor has exclusive rights to the invention, while a published patent is only available for public viewing and does not provide any legal protection until the patent is issued.

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