RE:RE:RE:RE:Frederick WiliamsGreatfulDead wrote: Patent law is complex, but typically there's an 18 month period following submission of the patent application during which the details are not disclosed. There are certain circumstances where the applicant will reveal details before the end of that 18 month period, but unless they do, you just have to wait.
Yes, and that annoys the snot out of me! After the 18 month period, you can look up an application's status using it's number, or the names of the would-be patent-holder, or the inventors, or the company, and so on. But for now, there is nothing.
I would prefer if they could at least provide details like "Paperwork filed on Date XX, 201X for (specific number) of different things, under the name of John Doe and SJL. We expect to be able to update everyone somewhere around Date YY." - that would satisfy me because I would know what to look for in the future and I would have a better feel for the timeline (and I would believe them more).
The Frederick WIlliams article was using rather effusive language like "exclusive patent" in a very promotional context, but I think he's referring to a patent they've applied for but that hasn't yet been granted. We all have to remember, it's not a slam dunk — there could be some obscure little company out there with a similar tech idea already in the system that has a legitimate challenge.
That's why I'm antsy to be able to look it up and see its status.
Note: SJL is a Canadian company, but rather than go through CIPO first, they have applied in the U.S. first. If there are no challenges and everything goes through and their patents are granted, then it will be a lot easier to register them worldwide. So eventually, you'll want to look up its status on the U.S. website not CIPO's.