Founders: don’t wait until someone copies your product to learn IP basics.
A U.S. provisional patent can help establish an early filing date for an invention. It doesn’t need formal claims, oath/declaration, or IDS, but it must clearly explain how the invention works.
Basic steps:
Write the invention in detail
Add diagrams/screenshots
Gather dated proof: commits, demos, posts, docs
File online through USPTO Patent Center
Use the 12-month window to decide whether to file a full non-provisional
Not legal advice. Just a reminder: protect your work early.