What are the key differences between a provisional and non-provisional patent application, and how do these differences impact the protection and rights of the inventor?

A provisional patent application provides temporary protection for an invention, while a non-provisional patent application is a formal application that undergoes examination. The key difference is that a provisional application does not result in a granted patent unless a non-provisional application is filed within one year. This impacts the inventor's rights as a provisional application does not provide the same level of legal protection as a granted patent.