General Information About Patents
(Excerpted from General Information Concerning Patents print brochure)

Contents

• Functions of the Patent and Trademark Office
• Purpose of this file
• What is a patent?
• Patent laws
• What can be patented
• Novelty and other conditions for obtaining a patent
• The United States Patent and Trademark Office
• General information and correspondence
• Library, search room searches
  • The Patent and Trademark Depository Library Program
• Attorneys and agents
  • Listings and Search Information on Patent Attorneys and Agents Registered to Practice before the PTO
• Disclosure Document
• Who may apply for a patent
• Application for patent
• Oath or declaration, signature
• About filing fees
• Specification (description and claims)
• Drawing
• Models, exhibits, specimens
• Examination of applications and proceedings in the Patent and Trademark Office
• Amendments to application
• Time for reply and abandonment
• Appeal to the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences and to the courts
• Interferences
• Allowances and issue of patent
• Nature of patent and patent rights
• About maintenance fees
• Correction of patents
• Assignments and licenses
• Infringement of patents
• Patent marking and "patent pending"
• Design patents
• Plant patents
• Treaties and foreign patents
• Foreign applicants for United States patents
• Fees and payment (Current PTO Fees)
• Answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ)