[sfifs]

Why can't all patent applications be mandatorially opened for a public comments period for a period of say 3 months for anyone else to file any objections? The act of patent application provisionally would protect the idea till the patent is granted.

Then the examiner could look at both the application and the comments and decide whether to grant or reject the application.

[btrettel]

US patent applications are open for third-party prior art submissions. https://www.uspto.gov/patents/initiatives/third-party-preiss...

Almost no one sends in prior art.