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Simple English definitions for legal terms
Patent pending
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A quick definition of Patent pending:
Patent pending: This label is used to describe an invention that is being examined by the Patent and Trademark Office to see if it can be patented. It means that the inventor has applied for a patent, but it has not yet been granted. The label can be used to let people know that a patent is being sought, but it does not provide any protection from infringement until the patent is granted. It is important to only use this label if a patent application has actually been filed, as there is a penalty for false marking.
A more thorough explanation:
Patent pending
When someone invents something new, they can apply for a patent to protect their invention from being copied by others. While the government is reviewing the patent application, the inventor can use the label "patent pending" to let people know that they are trying to get a patent. This label doesn't actually protect the invention yet, but it can warn others not to copy it. It's important to only use this label if a patent application has really been filed, because it's against the law to lie about it.
Example 1: Sarah invents a new type of phone case that can charge your phone without plugging it in. She files a patent application and starts selling the phone cases with the label "patent pending" on the packaging. This lets customers know that she's trying to get a patent for her invention.
Example 2: John comes up with an idea for a new type of bicycle lock. He tells his friends about it and starts selling the locks with the label "patent pending" on the packaging. However, John never actually files a patent application. This is against the law and he could get in trouble for false marking.
These examples illustrate how the label "patent pending" can be used to let people know that an inventor is trying to get a patent for their invention. It's important to only use this label if a patent application has really been filed, because it's against the law to lie about it.