A.  Publication of U.S. Patent Applications

Publication of a non-provisional patent application by the U.S. Patent Office occurs 18-months from its earliest effective priority date.  See MPEP 1120.  The earliest effective priority date is the earlier of the patent application's filing date or the filing date of an earlier patent application that a claim of priority is properly made to.  While non-provisional patent applications can be published, provisional patent applications are typically not published with a few exceptions. 

1.  What Does Publication Mean?

When a U.S. patent application is published, the patent application is made publicly available for download (see Sample Published Patent Application) and entire file history for the patent application can be viewed by anyone using Public PAIR.  In other words, not only can any third-party see your patent application they can also see all of the Office Actions sent by the U.S. Patent Office rejecting your patent application and all of your Responses/Amendments filed with the U.S. Patent Office.  In addition, your published patent application can become prior art for any later filed patent applications by others - or you.

2.  When Publication is Required

Publication of a U.S. patent application is required by the U.S. Patent Office if you (i) have filed or (ii) intend to file in a foreign country or an international patent application for the invention.  For example, if you filed a PCT international patent application 30 days prior to your U.S. patent application, the U.S. patent application will have to be published within 18 months of the earliest effective priority date.

3.  When Publication is Discretionary

If the invention disclosed in the patent application has not been and will not be the subject of an application filed in a foreign country or a multilateral international agreement (e.g. PCT), then the patent applicant has the choice of either having their patent application published or not published.  If the patent applicant does not want their patent application published, they must affirmatively make the request with the filing of the U.S. patent application by including a Nonpublication Request (see discussion below).

B.  Reasons to Publish Your Patent Application

Generally speaking, larger businesses typically want a patent application published unless there are reasons for secrecy.  Below are some typical reasons to have a patent application published:

• Required by U.S. Law.  If you have filed or intend to file in a foreign country or an international patent application, then you are required to have your patent application published.
• Competitors.  Publication of a patent application places competitors on notice that you are developing technology in a certain area.
• Searches.  Your published patent application will show up in patent searches by competitors and others attempting to patent similar technologies.
• Prior Art.  The published patent application can be used by the U.S. Patent Office to reject third-party patent applications for related technology.
• Provisional Rights.  If a patent is granted, you may receive a reasonable royalty for infringing activity occurring from the date of publication of the patent application to the issue date of the patent.  See 35 U.S.C. 154(d).
• Recognition.  Some inventors want recognition for their work and publication of a patent application ensures that their technology will be fully disclosed with credit made to them even if a patent is not granted.

C.  Reasons to Not Publish Your Patent Application

Generally speaking, inventors seeking to license their patent rights typically want a patent application to remain confidential unless they intend to file in a foreign country.  Below are some typical reasons to have a patent application remain nonpublished:

• Confidentiality of Invention.  By not publishing your patent application, the invention disclosed in the patent application will remain confidential until at least a patent is granted.
• Confidentiality of Patent Documents.  When a patent application is not published, all communications to and from the U.S. Patent Office remain confidential to all third-parties.
• Loss of Trade Secrets.  If your patent application includes any trade secrets, the trade secrets will remain protected by not publishing the patent application (if the application is published or granted as a patent, any trade secrets in the patent application are automatically lost).
• Confidentiality of Application Status.  If your patent application is not published, no third-party will be able to determine the status of your patent application.
• No Prior Art.  If you abandon this patent application and it is not published, the patent application cannot be used as prior art by the U.S. Patent Office to reject a later filed patent application by you for a related invention.

D.  Nonpublication Requests

1.  Include a Nonpublication Request with Patent Application

If publication of your patent application is discretionary, the main method of preventing publication of a U.S. patent application is to file a Nonpublication Request at the time you file your patent application.  You can not file this Nonpublication Request after the patent application has been filed.  Hence, if you fail to include a Nonpublication Request with your patent application filed with the U.S. Patent Office, your patent application will be published after 18-months from the earliest effective priority date unless you expressly abandon the patent application prior to publication (not generally recommended).

2.  You Can Rescind a Nonpublication Request Anytime

You can rescind a Nonpublication Request at anytime if you want your patent application published by the U.S. Patent Office.  You do not need a reason to rescind your Nonpublication Request.

E.  Notifying U.S. Patent Office if Foreign or International Patent Application Filed

If you file a foreign or international patent application for the invention, you are required within 45 days after the date of filing such non-U.S. application to notify the U.S. Patent Office and rescind the Nonpublication Request.  Failure to timely notify the U.S. Patent Office will result in abandonment of your U.S. patent application.  See 35 U.S.C. 122(b)(2)(B)(iii).

F.  General Recommendations

Publication of a patent application is something that needs to be taken seriously prior to filing your patent application.  Consult with your patent attorney about your objectives with the patent application and the invention.  If maintaining the confidentiality of your patent application is important and you do not intend to file in a foreign country, then it would be prudent to include a Nonpublication Request with your patent application filing (you can always rescind the Nonpublication Request later if you want).  If you prefer that your patent application be published by the U.S. Patent Office, then publication of your patent application may be prudent.  If you intend to file for patent protection in a foreign country, then publication of your patent application is required.  In the end, you have to follow the law and decide what available option is best for you and your invention.  As always, consult with your patent attorney regarding this important issue before making a formal decision.