Conduct a patent search

File a provisional patent application

Hire a patent attorney

Create a prototype of the invention

To establish an early filing date for your invention

To obtain a patent grant

To protect your invention from infringement

To allow you to sell your invention

1 year

2 years

3 years

4 years

File a non-provisional patent application

Wait for the USPTO to issue a patent grant

Market your invention

Sell your invention

1 year from the date the provisional patent application was filed

2 years from the date the provisional patent application was filed

3 years from the date the provisional patent application was filed

4 years from the date the provisional patent application was filed

To define the scope of the invention

To describe the invention in detail

To provide a basis for infringement litigation

All of the above

1

2

3

4

An independent claim can stand alone, while a dependent claim must refer back to an independent claim

An independent claim is broader than a dependent claim

An independent claim is narrower than a dependent claim

Both A and B

To describe the invention in detail

To provide a basis for infringement litigation

To allow the public to understand the invention

All of the above

A patent protects an invention, while a trademark protects a brand name

A patent lasts for 20 years, while a trademark lasts for 10 years

A patent can be renewed, while a trademark cannot

Both A and B

A patent protects an invention, while a copyright protects an original work of authorship

A patent lasts for 20 years, while a copyright lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years

A patent can be renewed, while a copyright cannot

Both A and B

To examine patent applications and issue patents

To maintain a database of patents

To provide information about patents to the public

All of the above

1 year

2 years

3 years

4 years

$100

$500

$1,000

$2,000

50%

60%

70%

80%