FAQs Patent Questions

Question:Any member of the U.S. Patent and Trademark office are prohibited from applying for a patent.

Answer:
Officers and employees of the United States Patent and Trademark Office are prohibited by law from applying for a patent or acquiring, directly or indirectly, except by inheritance or bequest, any patent or any right or interest in any patent.

Question:The inventors assistance center provides patent information.

Answer:
Provides patent information and services to the public. The IAC is staffed by former Supervisory Patent Examiners and experienced Primary Examiners who answer general questions concerning patent examining policy and procedure.

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.

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