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

A patent application is a request to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for a patent grant for an invention. A provisional patent application is also a request for a patent grant, but it differs from a patent application in a few ways. In Utah, a provisional patent application is not examined by the USPTO, allowing for the applicant to hold a priority date for their invention without actually being granted a patent. This is beneficial to the inventor if they need some time to further develop and test the invention before formally applying for a patent. A provisional patent application also requires fewer formalities than a regular patent application, which makes the application process quicker and cheaper. Once a provisional patent is granted, the inventor has up to one year to file for a non-provisional patent application, which will then be examined by the USPTO and, if successful, will result in the inventor being granted a patent. A provisional patent allows for an inventor to maintain protection over their invention for up to a year while they perfect it before formally applying for a patent. In short, a provisional patent application is a less formal way of protecting an inventor’s invention, allowing them to file for a patent later on. It is similar to a patent application but requires fewer formalities and is not examined by the USPTO.

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

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