What is patent filing, and what does it actually involve?
Reviewed by
Dominic Davies, patent attorney (20+ years)
· Last reviewed
September 7, 2026
Patent filing is the formal act of submitting a completed application to a patent office, along with government fees, to start the examination process. It's a distinct step from drafting: drafting prepares the application, filing submits it and locks in your priority date.
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