Sorry, the last post was not fpr DDiligen, it was for apatentlawyer (AGORACOM should have an edit-function): "Thanks for your clarification, just to be sure, I understand it correct: "...the application is filed..." means: the first step in the patent process, as the inventor files the application to get his invention patented - not the granted patent by the PTO. So if I file an appication for my invention THEN I could start to sell my products, even if I didn't receive a final patent (is this then a provisional patent?). Thank you in advance"