Detailed Instructions: Given a passage and a query based on the passage, generate an unambiguous, concise and simple answer to the query from information in the passage. Note that the answer may not be present in exact form.
Q: Hiring a patent lawyer is a good idea if you plan to go all the way and file a non-provisional patent application. However, professional legal advice isn't necessary at this early stage. You can do the research and fill out the application yourself. Get PROFESSIONAL.  1 Patent Pending Status for 12 Months. 2  Professional Technical Descriptions. See Description Samples. 3  Professional Patent Drawings. See Drawing Samples. 4  Phone call with an engineer to discuss details. A provisional application for patent lasts 12 months from its filing date. The USPTO will not grant extensions for any reason. The inventor(s) must file a Non-Provisional Patent Application within that period to take advantage of the Provisional Application for Patent's filing date. How long a patent lasts depends on when the application was filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Patents Filed Through June 17, 1995. For U.S. patents filed through June 17, 1995, the patent lasts for 17 years from the date the patent is issued, provided that the fees necessary to keep the patent in force (maintenance fees) are paid. Patents Filed After June 17, 1995 For patent applications filed after June 17, 1995, the patent last 20 years from the date of filing. If a non-provisional application is not expected to be filed within one year, and the patent is not otherwise barred by law, another provisional application may also be filed at any time and start another one-year period (but this does not work in all cases). You asked how to write a good provisional patent application so I will assume you know the drawbacks as well as the positives of a provisional patent application compared to a non-provisional. So it is best to think of the provisional patent application as a lower cost way of starting your journey toward receiving a patent, but it is incorrect to think of the provisional patent application as a cheap way to start the patent process. If you have filed more than 4 non-provisional patent apps in the past, or have an annual income of greater than $177,117, you may be classified as small entity or large entity which requires $140 or $280 govt fee If you have filed a Provisional Application for Patent relating to the same invention, and your Non-Provisional Utility Patent Application is filed within 12 months of your Provisional Application, your filing date will be the filing date of your Provisional Application. A patent is a governmental grant of a short-term monopoly to inventors. U.S. patent laws enable a patent holder to prevent others from making, using or selling the patented invention for a specific time period. How long a patent remains valid depends on the type of patent and other factors. A patent is a governmental grant of a short-term monopoly to inventors. U.S. patent laws enable a patent holder to prevent others from making, using or selling the patented invention for a specific time period. Query: how long is a provisional patent good for
A:
A provisional application for patent lasts 12 months from its filing date.