How to Protect Your Invention or New Product With a Provisional Patent
Since the American Invents Act, the U.S. has switched from a “first-to-invent” (FTI) to a “first-to-file” (FTF) patent system. This means that the right to patent an invention goes to the first person to file the application as opposed to the first person to create the product. In simple terms: an inventor must file before sharing the idea with potential manufacturers or the public. This is why provisional patents are important.