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Provided by Trademarks On Call®, the Patent Learning Center is for informational purposes only, not legal advice. Select a topic below to learn more about patents:
Patents | Design Patents | Provisional Applications | Utility Patents
Applying for Patents | Patent Office Actions | Patent Maintenance
Patenting your new and unique designs and inventions is the most effective way to protect and control your intellectual property. The primary types of patents issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark (USPTO) are: 1) Design Patents, and 2) Non-Provisional Utility Patents. The type of patent you apply for depends upon the type of intellectual property you wish to protect. In addition, the Provisional Patent Application is a useful tool when seeking to protect an invention via a Non-provisional Utility Patent.
Design Patents protect original ornamental designs, which can be used on goods and elsewhere. A Design Patent enables you to exclude others from using, making or selling your unique design. A Design Patent is granted for a term of 15 years.
A Provisional Patent Application protects your invention for 12 months from the date the application is filed. While an invention is considered "patent pending" during this 12 month period, the Provisional Patent Application never actually issues as a patent. Basically, a Provisional Patent Application is an inexpensive and effective placeholder that gives you time to prepare and file for a Non-Provisional Utility Patent.
Utility Patents protect new and useful inventions. Inventions that may be protected include new processes, machines, methods of manufacture, business methods, compositions of matter, and even an improvement to an existing invention. Utility Patents have a term of 20 years.
Disclaimer: Trademarks On Call is not a law firm or a substitute for an attorney or a law firm. Trademarks On Call does not provide legal advice. The information provided on this website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
