Some are wondering if the rate of provisional patent application filing is an accurate indicator of the strategy's true value.
image: http://feeds.directnews.co.uk/feedtrack/justcopyright.gif?feedid=3832&itemid=800938586 --- # [](https://www.innovation-asset.com/) - [Decipher®](https://www.innovation-asset.com/products-decipher) - [Services](https://www.innovation-asset.com/products/professional-services-0) - [Resources](https://www.innovation-asset.com/resources) - [Blog](https://www.innovation-asset.com/blog) - [About Us](https://www.innovation-asset.com/about) - [Contact Us](https://www.innovation-asset.com/contact) # Innovation Asset Blog # Value of provisional patent applications called into question by [Peter Ackerman](https://www.innovation-asset.com/blog/author/peter-ackerman) Firms have been filing provisional patent applications in the U.S. for nearly two decades, and the impending transition to a [first to file](https://www.innovation-asset.com/ip_strategy/business_of_ip.aspx) system is expected to expand the popularity of the procedural mechanism. However, some are wondering if the rate of activity is an accurate indicator of the strategy's true value. Provisional applications are often considered a [wise way](http://www.ipwatchdog.com/2011/11/26/benefits-of-a-provisional-patent-application/id=20644/) to begin the patenting process, as they allow inventors to affordably secure an initial disclosure date while exploring the potential of their idea and/or compiling a more substantive application. A record number of applicants subscribed to this logic in fiscal year 2012, with more than 160,000 provisional patent application filed with the USPTO. But while the popularity of this strategy is not in doubt, its relevance may be. As PatentlyO's Dennis Crouch alluded to in an [independent analysis](http://www.patentlyo.com/patent/2013/01/abandoning-provisional-applications.html), little more than half of those provisional applications are ever relied upon as priority documents. With that said, some wonder whether firms may be using it as a defensive tactic as opposed to a strategic necessity.  ### [Peter Ackerman](https://www.innovation-asset.com/blog/author/peter-ackerman) Founder & CEO, Innovation Asset Group, Inc. [January 02, 2013](https://www.innovation-asset.com/blog/value-of-provisional-patent-applications-called-into-question) ### Subscribe to Email Updates ### Introducing Decipher® ### Categories - [Intellectual Property Management (459)](https://www.innovation-asset.com/blog/topic/intellectual-property-management) - [Commercialization and Licensing (210)](https://www.innovation-asset.com/blog/topic/commercialization-and-licensing) - [Invention Disclosure (201)](https://www.innovation-asset.com/blog/topic/invention-disclosure) - [Innovation Strategy (20)](https://www.innovation-asset.com/blog/topic/innovation-strategy) - [Ideas for Good (6)](https://www.innovation-asset.com/blog/topic/ideas-for-good) - [Innovation Team (3)](https://www.innovation-asset.com/blog/topic/innovation-team) ### News Archives - [January 2013 (26)](https://www.innovation-asset.com/blog/archive/2013/01) - [September 2012 (25)](https://www.innovation-asset.com/blog/archive/2012/09) - [October 2012 (22)](https://www.innovation-asset.com/blog/archive/2012/10) - [November 2012 (22)](https://www.innovation-asset.com/blog/archive/2012/11) - [November 2010 (21)](https://www.innovation-asset.com/blog/archive/2010/11) - [February 2011 (21)](https://www.innovation-asset.com/blog/archive/2011/02) - [July 2012 (21)](https://www.innovation-asset.com/blog/archive/2012/07) - [December 2012 (21)](https://www.innovation-asset.com/blog/archive/2012/12) - [January 2012 (20)](https://www.innovation-asset.com/blog/archive/2012/01) - [March 2012 (20)](https://www.innovation-asset.com/blog/archive/2012/03) ##### Portland, Oregon USA ##### © Innovation Asset Group, Inc. ##### [Privacy Policy](https://www.innovation-asset.com/privacy-policy/) | [Terms & Conditions](https://www.innovation-asset.com/terms-and-conditions/) | [Contact Us](https://www.innovation-asset.com/contact/) -