MN Lawyer Referral shares everything you need to know if you are looking to submit for a patent. For more info regarding laws on patents, call today!A patent provides exclusive property rights granted to an inventor (or his assignee) for a fixed period of time in exchange for disclosure of an invention. EXPERIMENTAL USE​​ A patent will be denied if an invention was in public use or on sale more than one year prior to the date of application. When companies in Minnesota develop new products or processes, it is important that they are able to market and sell them. Deciding whether to file a patent? Before you make any taxable sales in Minnesota, you must register for a Minnesota Tax ID Number and a Sales and Use Tax account. Utility and plant patent applications can be provisional and nonprovisional. Provisional applications may not be filed for design inventions. A US patent is valid only in the US. You can use a PCT application, if you are still within the time limits, to file in other PCT countries.