Publication != Patent! (Score 2, Informative)

As a law clerk at a patent firm, I would like to clarify that all patent applications filed with the USPTO must be published after 18 months regardless of whether or not a patent will issue. (Exception if you intend to file only in the US). The publication of these applications affords no protection to the applicants. Only in the event of a granted patent will this be recognized as novel by the USPTO and granted the protection of the patent system.