Patent pending
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- This article is about patents. For the band, Patent Pending, see Patent Pending (band). For the Heavens album, see Patent Pending (album).
The expressions "patent pending" (sometimes abbreviated by "pat. pend." or "pat. pending") or "patent applied for" refer to a warning that inventors are entitled to use in reference to their product or process once a patent application has been filed, but prior to the patent being issued or the application abandoned. The marking serves to notify potential infringers who would copy the invention that they may be liable for damages (including back-dated royalties), seizure, and injunction once a patent is issued. Fraudulent use of the patent pending warning is prohibited by United States law and inventors should be cautious when marking products or methods that may arguably not be covered by any pending patent application.
[edit] Popular culture
The Wacky Races character "Professor Pat Pending" is named for one of the common abbreviations for the warning.
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[edit] External links
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