- any NEW and USEFUL process, machine, manufacture, or composition of
matter can be patented.
- any NEW and USEFUL improvement to any process, machine, manufacture, or
composition can be patented.
- they are/become important and valuable property rights and, like real
estate property, are transferable and the transfers are recordable in the
Patent and Trademark Office.
- a patent gives the patent holder the right in the U.S. to keep others
from making, using, selling, or offering to sell the invention covered by the
patent.
- filing a patent application is very costly.
- not every patent application will result in a patent.
- not all patents make money.
- Search first (takes about 3 weeks). Average search costs for a basic case
generally ranges between $850-$1150 and includes about 2-3 hours attorney time
in processing the search request and result and communicating each to you.
If you retain the attorney who initiated the search to file a patent
application within about 30 days of receiving the search results,
approximately $250 of the search costs will be credited to the preparation of
the patent application.
- All initial filing costs for a basic case are $500. A basic case
generally is defined as one with
not more than 20 total claims, not more than 3 independent claims, and not
more than 2 drawing sheets.
- Drawings are required. Cost for drawings are about $130 for each sheet.
More than one figure can be put on a single drawing sheet.
- Attorney fee for a basic case ranges from $3,200-$3,800; this is a flat
fee. There are no additional costs for every communication between us.
Additional fees will apply if communications are too frequent or too lengthy;
but; before you are to be charged, you will be informed ahead of time that
this may occur.
- All applications filed by APT are generally filed by express mail which
makes your invention 'patent pending' on the date mailed. All applications are
assigned to a Patent Examiner for detailed examination. Generally there will
be additional services and requirements and costs on most applications. When you retain a
patent lawyer to process an application for you, these potentialities, and
cost ranges, should be explained ahead of time so that you may make an
informed decision on whether or not to file a patent application.
.