Understanding Patent Applications
Nolo, November, 2006
You're confident that your invention has commercial potential. You've done a thorough patent search, and you can show that your invention is significantly different from earlier developments in its field. Now you have to convince the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) to grant you a patent. Each patent application filed with the USPTO goes through a rigorous examination process.
The application is assigned to a "patent examiner" who inspects it to make sure that: the invention meets the requirements for patentability, and the application itself follows the required USPTO format and language. You and the examiner will exchange letters or phone calls until you reach an agreement about which parts of your invention the patent will cover, if any. This process typically takes...
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