What is the patent application process?

The patent application process runs from invention disclosure through prior art search, drafting the specification and claims, filing a priority application, examination by the patent office, responding to any office actions, and finally paying a grant or issue fee once the application is allowed. For many applicants a PCT application at the 12-month mark is a key step, even when the end goal is only US protection, since it defers country decisions and major costs by up to 30 months from the priority date. Filing directly, grant typically takes 18 months to 3 years in the US and 3 to 5 years in Europe; via the PCT route, where national examination only begins after the international phase, total time from priority date to grant commonly runs 4 to 6 years.

External resources: USPTO: Patents basics, USPTO Patent Center (official e-filing system).