What is a non-publication request?

A Non-Publication Request (NPR) is a request made by an inventor to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to not make their patent application public. When a patent application is filed, the USPTO typically publishes the application and makes it available to the public 18 months after it was filed. This allows others to review the application and use the information to develop their own inventions. When an inventor makes a NPR, the patent application is not made public until the patent is granted by the USPTO. This prevents others from using the information to create similar inventions. In South Carolina, the NPR must be filed at the same time as the patent application in order to be valid. The USPTO may reject an NPR if the reason for the request does not follow their published guidelines. Reasons for rejection may include a request to gain an advantage over competitors or to keep the invention from being publicly known. If the request is rejected, the patent application will be published 18 months after filing. Overall, a Non-Publication Request is a request made to the USPTO to not make a patent application public until the patent is granted. In South Carolina, a NPR must be submitted at the same time as the patent application in order to be valid. Otherwise, the patent application will be published 18 months after filing.

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What is a non-publication request?

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