What is the difference between a patent and a patent application?

A patent and a patent application are two different things in the world of patent law. A patent is a type of legal protection that the United States government grants to inventors or companies for their invention. When a patent is granted, the inventor or company has exclusive rights to that invention, meaning that they can profit from the invention and no one else can make, use, or sell it. A patent application, on the other hand, is a document containing legal requirements that must be met by the inventor or company trying to obtain the patent. The application must include certain details about the invention such as its name, what it does, and how it works. It must also explain why the invention is useful and how it is different from existing inventions. Once the application is submitted, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will review it and decide whether the invention is patentable. If it is, then the patent will be granted. In Washington, inventors or companies can submit patent applications to the USPTO to receive legal protection for their inventions. The process of obtaining a patent can be time-consuming and expensive, but it helps guarantee that the inventor or company will benefit from the invention they have created.

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