This one is a half-truth that can still be profoundly risky.
Here's the Full Truth
In the U.S., you do have a one-year grace period after public disclosure to file a non-provisional patent application, but that’s not true everywhere. Public disclosure can kill your chance to get patent rights in another country. In many other countries, public disclosure before filing a full international application can stop your ability to get patent rights in those countries entirely, even if you filed a U.S. provisional application before that disclosure.
Here's What to Do
If you plan to file internationally, avoid public disclosures before filing both your provisional application and your non-provisional application.
A patent attorney can help you negotiate the tricky details of the timing regarding applications and public disclosure, as well as what counts as public disclosure. They can help you know when to use a non-disclosure agreement to prevent public disclosure, too.
If you’d like help with a patent, let’s talk. You can use my contact form or book a consultation online at kingpatentlaw.com or by calling my office at 312-596-2222 or 217-714-8558.
Please check out the other posts and pages on my website for more information on patents and other intellectual property and business law issues.
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