Is there any danger that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office will give others information contained in my application while it is pending?
Most patent applications filed on or after November 29, 2000 will be published eighteen months after the filing date of the application, or any earlier filing date relied upon under law. Otherwise, all patent applications are maintained in the strictest confidence until the patent is issued or the application is published. After the application has been published, however, a member of the public may request a copy of the application file. After the patent is issued, the USPTO file containing the application and all correspondence leading up to issuance of the patent is made available in the Files Information Unit for inspection by anyone and copies of these files may be purchased from the Office.
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