Marking a product Patent Pending

Mark your product: "PATENT PENDING" or "PAT. PEND."

If you like, add your patent pending number at the end (e.g. Patent Pending no. ZA2017/02156).

Don't claim that your product is "registered" / "patented" or refer to a "patent number".

After 12 months, substitute the patent pending number with a corresponding complete patent number. Or, if you have modified your product, get a new patent pending number.

You can add your patent pending number to:

• Your product (via a sticker, stamp or moulding)
• Your packaging
• Your marketing material
• Your website
• A removable plate on your tool / mould, so the number can easily be updated

Use any font size or text colour you like.

You may omit the patent pending number and merely claim that the product is "patent pending". Then you don't need to worry about updating the patent pending number.

Also consider adding a:

• Design Pending Number to protect the shape of your product; and
• Trademark Pending Number to protect your product branding.

Furthermore, if you are presenting a paper or submitting a thesis, add a copyright notice at the bottom of the document:

"© your name, the year" (e.g. © Iptica, 2017)