What is a provisional patent application?

A provisional patent application is a way to secure basic patent protection for an invention while taking extra time to finish inventing. In South Carolina, this application helps an inventor to protect their ideas and inventions from other people while giving them an extra year to develop and perfect the invention. A provisional patent application is filed with the United States Patent Office and is only valid for one year from the date of filing, giving inventors time to design, refine, and develop their invention. It does not offer any legal protection, and cannot be used to sue anyone for infringing on the invention. The application contains a description of the invention, and may also include drawings of the invention, photographs, or videos. It is important to note that the application does not have to include working sketches of the invention, or a detailed description of how the invention works; however, including such materials can be beneficial if the patent is later contested. The provisional patent application also serves as a way for inventors to officially record their intellectual property, giving them legal standing if their invention is ever used without their permission. The application can also be used to secure the earliest possible filing date for the invention, increasing the chances of a successful patent application.

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What is a provisional patent application?

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