Patent Application Publication

[Cynthia Averill]

What is the significance of having the U.S.P.T.O publish a patent application? How close is that to having a patent granted? Thanks

 

[divgradcurl]

What is the significance of having the U.S.P.T.O publish a patent application? How close is that to having a patent granted? Thanks

The patent publication is really meaningless from an issue standpont. All patent applications are automatically published after 18 months, unless the patent is only being filed in the U.S. (no foreign or PCT apps) AND the applicant psecifically requests that the application not be published. If the patent is being foreign filed, or if the applicant fails to request nonpublication, the application is automatically published after 18 months.

There is no connection between publication and issue. The publication, as noited, is automatic, and has nothing to do with the relative merit of the application, the application's progress through the PTO, or anything else.

 

[Cynthia Averill]

Oh well...

I appreciate your reply. I was hoping it meant progress in the application process, but it's good to know either way. Thanks Again, Cynthia