After filing your provisional patent application, you have 12 months to apply for a regular utility patent, and take advantage of the earlier filing date (i.e., date of invention) provided by the provisional patent application.  In order to take advantage of the ealier filing date, the regular patent application must describe the same invention (in sufficient detail) as was described in the provisional patent application.  Thus, in order to describe your invention in detail, it is recommended that you include drawings in both the provisional and regular patent applications.  The application for a regular patent is important because it is this patent that will define the scope of your patent protection.  Once the the regular patent issues, you may exclude others from making, using or selling the invention claimed in the patent.  Of course, we can guide you through this process.

When filing your regular patent application, you should consider whether you also need patent protection in any foreign country.  For example, if you intend to sell your invention in Euorpe and Japan, you will want to apply for European and Japanese patents.  If you do require foreign patent protection, you have the option of filing an international patent application pursuant to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).  While the PCT application itself does not provide actual patent protection, it does provide you with the oppurtunity to file a regular patent application in any country that is a member to the PCT.  The fees and filing deadlines vary with each country.  However, working with our extensive network of foreign agents and patent attorneys, we can guide you through the international patent process.

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