Answers.com > Wiki Answers > Categories > Law & Legal Issues > Business Law > Intellectual Property > Difference between patent and patent pending?

Difference between patent and patent pending?

Answer:

A patent is a grant from a patent office, such as the United States Patent Office. "Patent Pending" is a phrase that an application for a patent has been filed and is in some stage in the process of obtaining a patent. Thus, a patent can be presently enforced while a patent that is merely pending is unenforceable but can mature into a patent that can be enforced. Once the pending patent matures, the patent owner can sue for back damages or reasonable royalties starting from the filing date of the patent.

First answer by Doramjan. Last edit by Doramjan. Contributor trust: 4 [recommend contributor ]. Question popularity: 1 [recommend question].

[report abuse]

Can you answer these Intellectual Property questions?

	What is protected by the copyright laws?	Answer it!
	Who owns the patent to MDMA?	Answer it!
	How do you file a patent for your invention?	Answer it!
	How can intellectual property laws protect intellectual property rights?	Answer it!
	What are some ways you uphold equal rights for all?	Answer it!

Relevant answers:

What is the difference between patent and patent pending?
A patent is a grant from a patent office, such as the United States Patent Office. "Patent Pending" is a phrase that an application for a patent has been filed and is in some stage in the process of...
What is difference between copyright and patent?
A patent protects an invention. A copyright protects an expression.
What is the difference between a copyright and a patent?
They protect different things, are obtained, maintained and protected in different ways, have different border and treaty implications, have different durations, are infringed by different acts,...
What is the difference between a utility patent and a design patent?
According to the US Patent and Trademark Office: A utility patent may be granted to anyone who invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, article of manufacture, compositions of...
What is the difference between a trademark and a patent?
There are several major differences. First, a patent protects the owner of an invention from letting other people make, use, sell or import the patented invention without permission. A trademark...