ROUTES OF PATENT PROTECTION

BY PENNIE & EDMONDS LLP

Invention

Discovery

ProprietaryTechnology

NO

YES

PatentabilityDetermination

DefensivePublication

Pursuit ofU.S. Patent

Pursuit ofInternational

Patents

Publication

Prosecution

Prosecution PatentDenied

Correctionof Patents

PatentGranted

andPublished

PatentsGranted

EnforcementAgainst

Infringement

Overview of the Patenting Process

Invention

U.S. Patent Application Process

Search

Filing Receipt

Office Action

Response

Response

Advisory

Action

Refile

Prepare & FileApplication

Final OfficeAction

Notice ofAppeal

AppealBrief

ExaminerAnswer

Issuanceof Patent

ReplyBrief

BoardDecision

Notice ofAllowance

Interviewwith Examiner

Paymentof Fees

OralHearing

Patent

Correction of U.S. Patents

Request ForReexamination

Certificateof Correction

ReissueApplication

(Claims Changed)

Granted

Prosecution

Prosecution Denied

ReissuePatent

ClaimsChanged

ReexaminationCertificate

ClaimsAllowedwithoutChange

International Patent Application Filings

Non Convention Country Filings

U.S. Filing

ConventionCountryFilings

Groups

E.P.C.

National Others

Foreign Filing License

1 mo.

ASAP W/i 12 mos. Of U.S. Filing

P.C.T.

Search Report

Search Report

3 mos.

Demand for Examination

Request Examination

4 mos.

Written Report (W/i 3 mos.) Prosecution

YES NO

National Filings(w/i 20 mos.

From U.S. Filing Date

Response(W/i 2 mos.)

National Filings(w/i 30 mos.

From U.S. Filing Date

Patent Review Process Overview

1. Inventor completes Invention Disclosure Form (IDF)

2. Company Patent Liaison (CPL) assigns docket number

3. Preliminary patent search

DM discusses with inventor

PSC Meeting

Review invention

CPL presents search findings

Decision to proceed…

See options: 1-4

Make tradesecret

Don’t fileapplication

1 3

Moreinvestigation

requiredFile application

2 4

Foreign filingdecisions

Patent Issued