Protection is accorded only within the state. A federal registration supersedes any state registration, so a federal search should be done even if you intend to use or register the mark only in New Mexico. Examples of utility patents are those on the laser, the method of assisting persons to stop smoking by application of transdermal nicotine patches, and the software cryptographic method known as public key encryption. Before applying for a patent, you should search the trade literature and existing patents to see if someone else has already described your invention or something close. The staff there are extremely helpful.
Patent applications are difficult and complex documents both technically and legally.
It ordinarily takes at least two years to complete the patenting process. Since 1995, the option of filing a provisional application has become available. After filing a provisional application, the inventor has a year in which to find adequate funding for the rest of the project. A formal utility patent application must be filed before the end of the year. Foreign patent applications in most countries must be filed by the end of the year.