Provisionals are good for one year from date of filing.  If you don't file for the actual patent, it goes back to 'public domain'.  Find a patent AGENT (not attorney), they are typically cheaper and can do everything that an attorney can do, short of litigation in the courtroom.

--- On Mon, 6/9/08, Dr Skip <drskip@gmail.com> wrote:

Get a Provisional Patent. They're $200 and last a year or two, and get you
some 
protection - while you're theoretically working on the real one...



      
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