PATENTS X. The Patent Process.
George Washington signed the first patent issued in the United States.
George Washington signed the first patent issued in the United States.
In many cases, there are four basic steps involved in the process of getting a patent.
Step 1 is a patentability search to try to determine if your invention has already been developed by another person.
Step 2 is, if the patentability search results are favorable, preparing and filing the necessary utility patent application documents in the United States Patent Office.
Step 3 is prosecuting the patent application until the Patent Office agrees to issue a patent.
Step 4 is paying the Patent Office the necessary fees to issue the patent.
After the patent is issued, maintenance fees are due on the 4th, 8th, and 12th anniversaries of the patent.
Prior to filing a utility application, a preliminary patent application, called a "provisional" patent application can be filed in the Patent Office. The provisional application is discussed in more detail in XIV. Some Preliminary Steps You Can Take to Help Protect Your Invention.
Step 1 is a patentability search to try to determine if your invention has already been developed by another person.
Step 2 is, if the patentability search results are favorable, preparing and filing the necessary utility patent application documents in the United States Patent Office.
Step 3 is prosecuting the patent application until the Patent Office agrees to issue a patent.
Step 4 is paying the Patent Office the necessary fees to issue the patent.
After the patent is issued, maintenance fees are due on the 4th, 8th, and 12th anniversaries of the patent.
Prior to filing a utility application, a preliminary patent application, called a "provisional" patent application can be filed in the Patent Office. The provisional application is discussed in more detail in XIV. Some Preliminary Steps You Can Take to Help Protect Your Invention.
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