File patent – Patent Pending: What Does It Mean?
Thursday, January 22nd, 2009Many companies begin manufacturing and selling their new product (a.k.a. their invention) to the marketplace before their patent is officially granted. They use the term “patent pending” to indicate that the product is proprietary and a patent is (just like the term states), pending.
The only way you (or any company) can ever legally use the term “patent pending” is when a patent application has been filed to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Any person or company who falsely uses this term can be fined. So take care to only use it when it is true.

