What is one of the limitations of provisional applications?

Provisional applications have specific characteristics that differentiate them from non-provisional patent applications. One significant limitation is that they cannot include formal claims. Instead, a provisional application serves as a means to establish an early filing date for the invention while allowing the inventor to document the invention without the necessity of formal claim language that would typically be required in a non-provisional application. This lack of claims is important because it means that while the provisional application can describe the invention in detail, it does not convert into a patent until a corresponding non-provisional application is filed, including claims that define the invention.

In contrast, the other options present aspects not applicable to provisional applications. Amendments are not permissible in provisional applications since they are not subject to formal examination or standard amendment processes like those applied to non-provisional applications. Including an oath is also not a requirement for provisional applications; oaths are typically part of the non-provisional application. Lastly, provisional applications do not undergo examination as they are merely a placeholder that secures a filing date and do not lead directly to a patent without further action. Understanding these limitations is crucial for inventors considering filing a provisional application as a strategy for patent protection.