Are provisional patent applications examined for patentability?

No, provisional patent applications are not examined for patentability. The MPEP explicitly states:

Provisional applications will not be examined for patentability.

This is one of the key differences between provisional and nonprovisional applications. The purpose of a provisional application is to:

• Establish an early filing date
• Allow the term ‘Patent Pending’ to be applied
• Provide a 12-month period to further develop the invention

Since provisional applications are not examined, they do not require formal patent claims or an oath or declaration. This simplifies the filing process and allows inventors to quickly secure a priority date for their invention.

To obtain patent protection, a nonprovisional application must be filed, which will then undergo examination for patentability.

For more information on patent filing, visit: patent filing.