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Research Guides

LIS 526: Government Publications (Patents & Trademarks) - Autumn 2023: Patent Applications

Provisional Patent Applications

  • Utility and plant patents only

  • Provides a filing date and use of "patent pending"

  • 12 months to file non-provisional patent application

  • Helpful to independent inventors and small businesses

  • Not searchable.

  • Publication only occurs if included in the file for an issued patent stemming from the provisional application.
     
    USPTO Provisional Patent Application Guide and Fees

Published Patent Applications (aka Pre-Grant Publications)

  • Non-provisional utility and plant patent applications filed on or after November 29, 2000 (PGPUB)

  • Pre-grant publication 18 months after filing...

    • UNLESS inventor files a request that the application not be published and attests that a patent will not be filed in a foreign country
    • Design patent applications are not published
       

  • Publication began on March 15, 2001

  • Searchable in USPTO Patent Public Search