Sometimes there are two or more applications for patent claiming the same invention a different inventors. The PTO board of Patent Appeals and Interferences decides the question of priority of invention, in other words, who is the first inventor among the different parties.
The United States Patent and Trademark Office only has jurisdiction over the United States. That means if you receive a successful patent from the United States patent trademark office it will only be able to exclude others from the use of that invention in the United States. If you want patent protection in other countries, you must file patent applications in the individual countries or proceed with the Patent Cooperation Treaty. That is why it is important to consult with professionals, such as InventHelp patent agency, before patenting anything.
Relevant Time Periods
Inventors must be extremely careful about their activities prior to applying for a patent. You have a one year deadline for filing an application from any of the following events: placing the invention on sale, publishing a description of the invention, offering a detailed description of the invention at a public meeting, or placing the invention into the hands of the public. Thus it is best to hire a patent agency such as InventHelp patent services to get things done professionally.
If you run past the one year deadline, you will lose your chance to file a patent application for that invention.
