WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PATENTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE?
A. A “UTILITY” patent protects the idea behind the invention a novel structure, apparatus, device, composition of matter, recipe, method of manufacture, method of doing business, or almost any other invention that is novel and not obvious. A utility patent is valid for 20 years from the date of filing the application. A “DESIGN” patent protects the “ornamental appearance” of a product, and lasts for 14 years from the date that it is issued. A “PROVISIONAL” patent application establishes a filing date for a later utility patent application. It is valid for one year, but it is never examined by the Patent Office. The Provisional patent application does not require the legal claim language that is required by a utility patent application — this makes it particularly well suited for do-it-yourself patent application filing. The Provisional Patent Application is useful for protecting yourself from idea theft at a minimum expense. If the idea does not sell, you can abandon the project witho
