The purpose is to provide notice to anyone who sees the invention or its advertising, that the invention is currently the subject of a pending patent application. Accordingly, caution is advised for those who might consider copying the invention, as it may eventually be patented. Once the patent issues, Patent Pending should be changed to Patented. If the application is abandoned, it is fraudulent to continue to say that the invention is Patent Pending, just as it is to say Patent Pending when no patent application has been filed.
