Q: Is there a way to search for pending patents?
A: If you look at the USPTO website it will give you strategies for searching for patents. Part of a patent search includes searching for relevant published patent applications, which can be done for US patents on USPTO Patent Application Full-Text and Image Database (AppFT) and for foreign patent applications on Escapenet. Patent searching can include other databases and tools too. A published patent application is a patent application which was submitted but not issued a patent yet and the application is public. Some patent applications are not published, and not public, which can occur because the applicant decided to submit the patent with a non-publish request, the standard 18 months time (for publication of a patent application in the US) from the filing date has not occurred yet, or other delays.
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