DO Stop Believin’: 5 Common Misconceptions About Provisional Patent Applications

Provisional patent applications are popular with startups and inventors because they’re fast and relatively inexpensive, but they’re also one of the most misunderstood tools in the inventor’s toolkit. They’re inexpensive, flexible, and don’t require formal claims—but they’re not a shortcut to a patent.

Let’s bust five of the most common myths about provisional patent applications so they don’t trip you up later.

1. Don’t Stop Yourself Now: “A Provisional Patent Application Gives Me a Patent”

2. Don’t Dream On: “As Long As I File Something, I’m Covered”

3. Don’t Have Open Arms: “I Can Publicly Disclose My Invention After Filing and Still Be Safe”

4. Don’t Go Your Own Way: “I Don’t Need a Patent Attorney for a Provisional Application”

5. Do Keep Movin’ On: “Once I File a Provisional Application, I Don’t Need to Worry for a Year”

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