This page provides information on the types of patents and types of patent applications, and the examination process. The purpose of this guide is to provide you with basic information about filing a utility patent application with the USPTO.Software is still generally eligible for patent protection, and lots of people are still pursuing software patents. Patent claimformulations are crucial for a patent application, because they define an invention precisely. A provisional patent application has no formal requirements, so strictly does not need to include claims or drawings. As a result, many businesses who routinely file software patent applications now find it more difficult to secure patent protection. Patenting computer games involves special issues, which we will cover in a later, extended version of this guide. Software patents are not dead. In the wake of Alice, you should take a measured approach as we wait for further guidance from the courts. How much information should be in a provisional patent application?