What is a Provisional Patent?
When you create an invention or design, you likely want to protect your creation from misappropriation, which often involves obtaining a patent. The patent application process can be lengthy and costly, however, so many people fail to protect their idea. If you are not the first person to patent a design, you lose your opportunity to do so. In addition, you might not want to start a patent application because you do not know if your idea is marketable, whether you can afford to promote or produce it, and other reasons. The good news is that there is another option before you get a patent, which is called a provisional patent. Overview of Provisional Patents A provisional patent allows you to claim “patent pending” status before you obtain a full…
