Lightwave Logic Inc (LWLG)

[Fruno]

The USPTO keeps patent applications in confidence for 18 months, then makes them available for public viewing (see https://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpep/s101.html). It's up to the applicant to decide to publicize them. Kudos to forztnt2 for keeping an eagle eye out for them.

Of interest is the filing date for the application being discussed - it's December 9, 2022. It was published on June 15, 2023, so less than 18 months. The applicant can request earlier publication of applications per the rule cited above. They also did this with the recent application related to high-boiling point solvents (18/072964, filing date December 1, 2022, published June 8, 2023) and the one related to diamondoid groups (17/358960, application date June 21, 2021, published December 30, 2021).

The company must have a reason for requesting early publication of these applications. Let the speculation begin.

LWLG has obtained several patent approvals in less than 24 months, but some take longer. There is no set timeline. An incomplete perusal of some of the patents I've downloaded show approval times ranging from 16 months to 4.5 years.

Legal protection for the "invention" covered in a patent application begins the day the application is received. However, the applicant/assignee can't prosecute for infringement until after the patent is granted. I've linked to sites that explain this in the past. Also, this is one of the purposes of NDAs, to allow discussion of new technologies with interested parties. It should be noted that LWLG discusses new technologies with potential partners as they are being developed in order to give them what they want.