Yes, but as soon as the patent is granted, you can no longer use the idea.
This means the paperwork has been submitted to and received by the patent office, but the office has not given the idea a patent yet. If someone violates a pending patent that is later approved, it's the same legally as violating an established patent, under American law. Note that other countries' legal interpretation will differ.
One option is to visit the website of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) at uspto.gov. They provide a database called "Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR)" where you can search for patent application status and pending items. Another option is to visit websites like Google Patents or Espacenet, where you can search for pending patent applications and view their status and associated documents.
i have a Winchester 37. 28inch that says patent pending . Any idea the value of this gun
Patent and Pending is like a copyright. You cannot use/steal the name or idea as it has been protected.
Someone can steal your idea, and patent it.
There are several ways to search for pending patents. One is to go to Google Patent Search (www.google.com/patents) or you can contact companies that help you develop your ideas. They charge a fee, but they will research and see if there are any similar products in development. You can search the internet under invention developers for a choice of companies,
Yes. Ideas cannot be protected; only expressions of ideas.
There is no real way of patenting an idea. A vague idea or concept can not really be copyrighted. One has to have a clear blueprint or a proof of concept in order to copyright.
Plagiarism is using someone elses answer, idea or writing and claiming it as your own knowing it is not your work or not giving the original writer credit.
Getting a patent is a great idea to protect your idea. You can apply for a patent online www.InventionHome.com.
It's called a "patent" :)
Ideas cannot be protected by copyright. If your idea is a new process, you may wish to seek patent protection for it.