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US Patent Applications

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), with headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia (next to Washington, D.C.), is solely responsible for granting US patents.

The USPTO urges applicants to engage the services of a licensed US patent practitioner to help in preparing and filing patent applications, given the complexity of the task (more information).

A detailed overview of the procedure of obtaining a US patent can be seen with our patent flow diagram.

Once you get a US Patent, it is valid for up to 20 years from the filing date of the first regular US application, as long as the patent owner timely pays the required patent maintenance fees and the patent is not otherwise invalidated.

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