Provisional Patent: Features

Provides simplified filing with a lower initial investment with one full year to assess the invention’s commercial potential before committing to the higher cost of filing and prosecuting a non-provisional application for patent;
Establishes an official United States patent application filing date for the invention;
Permits one year’s authorization to use "Patent Pending" notice in connection with the invention;
Begins the Paris Convention priority year;
Enables immediate commercial promotion of the invention with greater security against having the invention stolen;
Preserves application in confidence without publication in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 122(b), effective November 29, 2000;
Permits applicant to obtain USPTO certified copies;
Allows for the filing of multiple provisional applications for patent and for consolidating them in a single §111(a) non-provisional application for patent;
Provides for submission of additional inventor names by petition if omission occurred without deceptive intent (deletions are also possible by petition).