stu - it does take several weeks for patent applications to show in the register, so they could have filed it but they must wait, as they said, for it to be accepted.
The difference between a Patent and Patent pending is that the USPTO checks to see if anyone else has a patent and if not then the Patent pending is assigned. It also locks anyone else out from pulling a Patent on the same process.
A patent is only good for about 8 years whereas a Patent pending can last forever as long as it is renewed I believe each year.
Patent pendings are not shown as Patents are...so they are not revealed on the USPTO web site.
How important is the patenting of this process (or the catalyst that makes it possible) to the future of the P2O revenue stream? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I do not think you can patent a process per se!
I don't think you will find a patent on "fractional distillation" for instance... but you will without any doubt find many patents on equipment that uses fractional distillation to make many different products! It's the equipment design & applications of the process to make the product that is patented!
If you want to make the same product... you either buy/license the manufacturer's equipment... or design your own equipment that DOES NOT infringe on the other's patents!
As for patenting the catalyst... that means sooner or later others get access to your catalyst!
Ask Coca-cola or KFC why they did not patent their secret recipes!IF you are good at KEEPING SECRETS, then THAT is the way to KEEP YOUR SECRETS ONLY YOURS!
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