Are patent applications published by the Patent Office?
Utility patent applications filed on or after November 29, 2000 are published after 18 months. Design patent applications are not published. Publication provides “provisional rights” under 35 U.S.C. 154(d) to obtain a reasonable royalty during the period beginning on the date of publication of the application by the United States Patent and Trademark Office and ending on the date the patent is issued.
