What is the process of patent examination?

The process of patent examination in Washington consists of multiple steps. The first step is to submit a patent application to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), which will review it to make sure it meets the legal requirements for a patent. Once the application has been accepted, the USPTO will conduct a thorough examination of its contents. During the examination, a USPTO examiner will review the patent application to assess its novelty, utility, and non-obviousness. The examiner will also compare the invention to any previously registered patents, as well as to any existing technology. If the examiner finds that the patent does not meet the legal requirements for a patent, a rejection will be issued. If the patent application is allowed, the next step is to publish the application in a patent publication. After the publication date, any interested third party can request to participate in an examination of the patent application. The third-party examination is conducted by a panel of independent patent professionals that reviews the quality of the invention and its utility. Once the examination process is complete, the USPTO will make a decision on whether or not to grant the patent. If granted, the applicant will be awarded a patent certificate, legally protecting the invention.

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