Don't Lose Your Patent Rights

Before you disclose your invention on a non-confidential basis, remember that such a disclosure can destroy your absolute novelty and prevent you from being able to obtain a valid patent in many foreign countries. When you use your invention commercially, offer it for sale, show it in public, or describe it in a printed publication, remember that you have one year from the first of these activities to file U.S. patent application. If there is not enough time to file a regular utililty patent application, you may want to file at least a provisional patent application to keep your options open and avoid losing your rights.