What is the difference between a provisional and Nonprovisional patent?

A nonprovisional patent application is normally considered the regular utility patent application. It’s what you file to get the USPTO to examine your utility application and hopefully grant your patent. A provisional patent application, on the other hand, does not get reviewed.

How long does a nonprovisional patent last?

As a general rule, utility patents filed after June 8, 1995, have a life of 20 years from the date of filing of the earliest non-provisional application to which it claims priority.

How much does it cost to file a non-provisional patent?

The government filing fee for the non-provisional is $530. Therefore, the cost of the second step, filing the non-provisional application, is $2030.

Why might you file a provisional patent application instead of filing a nonprovisional patent application?

As such, the primary reason that one might want to file a provisional patent application instead of a nonprovisional patent application is to delay long-term examination costs, not to reduce the immediate cost of preparing and filing the patent application.

Who patented toilet paper?

Inventor Seth Wheeler
The topic of conversation is a patent from 1891 with the dull title “Wrapping or toilet paper roll.” Inventor Seth Wheeler of Albany, New York, patented a toilet paper roll with tear-off sheets. Essentially, it’s the modern toilet-paper roll as we know and love it.

How hard is it to get a utility patent?

In turn, utility patents are difficult to obtain. For one, they are hard to write, the process may be time consuming and expensive to undertake, and their complexity may make them difficult to understand. Utility patents are issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and last for up to 20 years.

How much does a provisional patent cost?

Although a provisional patent isn’t considered a true patent, it protects your intellectual property for 12 months the way a non-provisional patent would. Filing a provisional patent application can cost as low as $65. However, provisional patent applications typically cost between $5,000 and $9,000 plus legal fees.