Running on Empty: 5 Common Mistakes DIY Applicants Make on Provisional Patent Applications (and How to Avoid Them)

Filing a provisional patent application can be a smart, strategic move for inventors, but only if it's doneright. Unfortunately, many DIY filers treat the process like it's just a placeholder or a quick form to “get something on file.” The truth? Many DIY inventors make critical mistakes in provisional applications that cost them patent rights down the road.

Let’s break down the 5 most common mistakes inventors make when filing a provisional patent application themselves—and how to avoid them. Here's what I'm covering in today's episode:

1: Not Describing the Invention in Sufficient Detail

2. You Can’t Go Back: Treating It Like a Placeholder that Doesn’t Matter

3. The Pretender: Using Overly Broad or Ambiguous Language

4. Show Me the Way: Failing to Include Drawings or Diagrams

5.Slip Slidin’ Away: Assuming a P ...