How Long Does It Take To Get A Patent Approved

How long will you lot have to look for a patent? Learn how long it takes, depending on the blazon of patent.

Protecting the intellectual property of an inventor tin be a tricky process. While some may adopt the security and obscurity offered past treating an invention as a trade secret, the monopoly guaranteed past a patent is more attractive to others. The monopoly provided by a patent lasts 20 years for utility patents (as long as the proper maintenance fees are paid on fourth dimension) and 14 years for blueprint patents. However, information technology takes time for the U.s.a. Patent and Trademark Function (USPTO) to process a patent application and grant the patent. You volition need to be extremely patient.

Start Office Action

Patents are reviewed sequentially. At whatsoever given fourth dimension, the USPTO has a excess of several thou applications, and just a few thousand examiners on hand to review them. Every bit a result, it takes about two years for a patent to be candy. Your first response from the USPTO is chosen an "Office Action." Since you will have to respond to the action, and the USPTO volition and so accept to reply to your response, yous tin can safely approximate that it will accept at least three years from the date of your initial application to receive your patent.

How Long Does it Accept to Get a Patent in Special Cases?

It tin can have even longer to become your patent if yous are submitting an application for a patent in a high-traffic field such as computer software. In such cases, getting your patent can take twice as long, even if you lot are not required to file any special documents to support your awarding. If yous are required to file a Request for Continuing Examination or a Continuation Application, your patent may exist awaiting for five to six years. If you must appeal a decision to the Lath of Patent Appeals and Interferences, you can expect to add together another yr and to pay additional fees – and there is no guarantee that you will win your entreatment and receive your patent.

Having an attorney'due south expertise can make a huge deviation when navigating the patent procedure. We tin aid y'all inquire a lawyer a legal question now.

This article contains general legal data and does not contain legal advice. Rocket Lawyer is not a law house or a substitute for an chaser or law firm. The law is complex and changes ofttimes. For legal advice, delight ask a lawyer.