Patent Litigation Lawyers

Types of Patent Applications

There are several different types of patent applications that you can use when filing. Each type has its own benefits, and is more useful in certain situations. This allows patent offices to accept applications from inventors at different stages of the patent process.

The four basic types of applications are standard, provisional, continuation and divisional. These sometimes go by different names, but are generally the same type of application.

The standard application is just what it sounds like. This is the basic application through which you can file your patent. The standard application contains everything necessary for the grant of a patent. This does not, however, guarantee the grant of a patent. This is often referred to as a non provisional patent.

Because there are standard non provisional patent applications there are also provisional patent applications. This application allows the applicant to obtain a filing date without filing a full standard application. This secures the applicant with a priority date for one year. In that time, the provisional application can be incorporated into a standard application. If that does not happen within the year, the application expires.

There are also continuation and divisional applications. The continuation allows more content or refinement to be added to an existing application. The divisional application allows subject matter to be separated from an existing application.

A Patent Litigation Lawyer Can Help

If you are considering patenting, contact the patent litigation lawyers of Williams Kherkher at 800.761.3187.