To apply for a patent, you must file an application and pay required fees. You can file the application, forms, documents, and pay fees online on the USPTO official site.In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the steps of filing a patent in California, including what types of patents are available. What can and cannot be patented? Utility patents can be obtained for any new, useful, and non-obvious process. To do so, simply fill out an invention disclosure form (IDF), nondisclosure agreement (NDA), along with your basic contact information. The patent pending in California refers to the protected status your invention receives after filing a provisional patent application with the USPTO. The typical method of filing a patent application is using the USPTO's Electronic Filing System (EFS-Web). A guide for filing a provisional patent in California explaining benefits of patent pending rights and provisional patent filing process. First, your invention must be considered to be novel and nonobviousness.