What is a #patentpending status and how do you get one?
Sometimes you’ll notice when you buy something on the shelf, you will read on their packaging that it says “patent pending” or you will see when you go on an e-commerce platform trying to buy something online that they have that “patent pending status”.
What is that mean and what are the benefits?
What would it mean is that the person has a patent-pending status. Essentially they filed for a patent whether the utility patent or design patent to cover the design and the look and ornamental feel of that object or device or they have a patent pending for the actual utility and functionality of the product. And as soon as you file for a patent you can basically say that your patent is pending.
Does it need to be a nonprovisional for a utility patent? No. As soon as you file a provisional patent application, you can put on there that you have a patent-pending. As soon as you file a design patent, or as soon as you file a nonprovisional application, you can essentially state that you have a patent-pending.
Some of the benefits of having that patent pending status are to let others know that you actually filed for a patent for that product and that you are claiming rights to your #intellectualproperty and to your patent rights actually. And what it does usually stop others from wanting to copy it, so they will know that you are serious about protecting your patent rights, they will know that you are serious protecting your intellectual property and that makes it less likely for somebody else to infringe on it. Now others might still infringe on your product but at least others would know that you are actually taking steps in proactively protecting your IPM and you will be coming after them if they do, copy your #idea.
