Patent Pending optionsThe patent pending number reserves your right to file patents in 177 countries for the next 12 months.
Your patent pending document will be retained secret by the Patent Office we used to issue the Patent Pending Number, and will not be subject to any substantive patent search or examination. Should you wish to obtain a granted complete patent, in 12 months' time, you will likely file an international (PCT) patent. Within 4 months of filing a PCT patent, you should receive a patent search and examination report. This will give you (and potential licensees) objective feedback regarding validity of your patent. 30 months after getting your patent pending number, you will need to file a "national phase patent" in each country in which you require patent protection. Most national phase patents will require you to argue with the patent examiner to prosecute your patent to grant. A patent attorney will help you through the PCT, national phase and patent prosecution process. When selecting countries in which to file national phase patents, consider potential prosecution costs. The most affordable country in which to file a national phase patent is South Africa ‐ South African patents are not examined; are typically granted within 14 months; and cost only US$585 (from filing to grant, inclusive). We like S&Z. Patent timeline
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