FAQs Patent Questions

Question:Will the USPTO help me to select a patent attorney or agent to make my patent search or to prepare and prosecute my patent application?

Answer:
No. The Office cannot make this choice for you. However, your own friends or general attorney may help you in making a selection from among those listed as registered practitioners on the Office roster. Also, some bar associations operate lawyer referral services that maintain lists of patent lawyers available to accept new clients.

Question:Is there any danger that the USPTO will give others information contained in my application while it is pending?

Answer:
Most patent applications filed on or after November 29, 2000, will be published 18 months after the filing date of the application, or any earlier filing date relied upon under Title 35, United States Code. 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.

Question:If two or more persons make an invention jointly, they apply for a patent as joint inventors

Answer:
If two or more persons make an invention jointly, they apply for a patent as joint inventors. A person who makes only a financial contribution is not a joint inventor and cannot be joined in the application as an inventor.

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