The Patenting Process

The entire patent process involves a period of twelve to twenty months whereby an inventor first files a temporary/provisional application and thereafter files for a permanent/complete application twelve months later. The complete application takes about 9 months to be registered.

An inventor has the option to file a permanent application instead of a temporary one first, however, it is to the inventor’s advantage to file for a temporary patent first and here is why:

The inventor receives valuable time to complete, test, manufacture and refine his or her invention to perfection before filing for a permanent application, which is more expensive compared to a temporary application. This then enables the inventor to be more specific and prepare a far more detailed permanent patent application, enabling the maximum patent protection for the invention.

It is of the utmost importance however to keep all detail relating to your invention and/or any modifications done during the twelve month period extremely confidential at all times because if any of the information had to leak, it will no longer qualify to be “new”.

There is one disadvantage to filing a temporary application however, and that is that the application does not provide the owner of the invention with enforceable rights what so ever meaning the inventor is not entitles to take legal action or any steps in attempt to stop anyone from using and/or trading with his or her invention as described in https://www.techtimes.com/articles/246245/20191127/why-inventhelp-is-essential-for-entrepreneurs.htm post.

Only a permanent patent protection grant by the US patent office allows the inventor enforceable rights. And, it is also not up to the Patent office who granted the patent protection to enforce the protection rights, but solely up to the owner of the invention. The only purpose a temporary application serves is to provide protection for an inventor’s invention while in the final stages of completion and testing of commercial potentials.

The temporary patent application allows the inventor priority legal rights that may be prosecuted within a period of twelve months in other countries who will allow one to patent the invention as explained on https://www.state-journal.com/business/inventors-benefit-from-greater-resources-with-inventhelp/article_2ed00b0a-0a69-11ea-bce0-077a934cdaa3.html.

The most important is to ensure the utmost secrecy and to never disclose any information regarding the invention, never use the invention or show anyone the invention even your family or friends of they are not legally bound by a contract.