Dear Saint2709,

Thank-you for posting here.

Please do not apologize for being uneducated in patent applications.  I have been dealing with the subject for many years and find it to be complicated as well.

Let me see if I can help.

Although you did not pose a specific question, I assume you are concerned about where things stand and the possibility that something might get lost between the cracks.

With respect to your concern that things may expire unattended, let me assure you that we have several employees who are on top of this all the time as well as a patent agent/office who monitors each patent closely.  Although falling through the cracks is technically possible, in reality I would say it is next to impossible.

Let me assure you that our patent applications are all proceeding at the usual pace (boring), with the normal questions and answers (even more borrowing), and we have no reason to believe we will have anything less than a stellar outcome…which is the awarding of a patent.

The questions and answers in the process are nothing to be concerned about and are expected as the natural process in patent applications.  I am sure many think that it is just a simple matter of describing your invention and a patent is allowed.  The opposite is in fact true; a rigorous testing of your assumptions is what makes a patent valuable.   

The other fact that might give you confidence in the ultimate outcome of the patent application is that it is usually an expense process and asset to have (year in and year out there are maintenance fees which can total quite an amount if you amass a significant patent portfolio).  These expenses are a deterrent for small companies like PyroGenesis in pursing patent applications that they feel have either (i) no hope of being awarded or (ii) have no commercial application.  The fact we are pursing a patent award then implies we are confident in its outcome.

I hope this has helped a bit,

Sincerely,

Peter