PATENTS

 

A patent is a set of exclusive rights granted by a sovereign state to an inventor or assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for detailed public disclosure of an invention. The procedure for granting patents, requirements placed on the patentee, and the extent of the exclusive rights vary widely between countries according to national laws and international agreements. Typically, however, a granted patent application must include one or more claims that define the invention. A patent may include many claims, each of which defines a specific property right. These claims must meet relevant patentability requirements, such as novelty, usefulness, and non-obviousness. The exclusive right granted to a patentee in most countries is the right to prevent others, from commercially making, using, selling, importing, or distributing a patented invention without permission.

YOUR QUESTIONS…

1.     When should I apply for a patent?

2.    Can I patent my name and logo?

3.    How do I know if I can get a patent?

4.    Someone is using my patented process.  How do I stop them?

5.    Should I file a provisional application or a utility patent application?

6.    How does a design patent differ from a trademark?

7.    How long does the patenting process take?

8.    Can I design around an existing patent?

OUR ANSWERS…

We provide a comprehensive set of services related to the creation, exploitation, and protection of patent portfolios.  Many patent prosecution services are offered on a flat fee basis.

 

PATENT PROSECUTION AND COUNSELING - FLAT FEE $1,000-$7,500

 

PROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATION - FLAT FEE $1000

Preparation of provisional patent application, less than 25 pages long, drawings supplied by client.

 

NON-PROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATION - FLAT FEE $3,500-$7,500

We work directly with our clients’ engineers, research and development teams, and programmers to implement ongoing patent filing programs both domestically and internationally.  We also develop invention and innovation programs to provide incentives for engineers to identify patentable technology, organize and participate in invention committees o strategically evaluate technology and to proactively identify areas in which to focus patent protection.  We handle portfolio management. 

 

Basic - 25 pages or less, 20 claims or less, no more than 3 independent claims - $3,500

Technical - 35 pages or less, 25 claims or less, no more than 5 independent claims - $5,500

Expert - 50 pages or less, 30 claims or less, no more than 7 independent claims - $7,500

 

PATENT PROSECUTION FEE SCHEDULE

 

PATENT PROSECUTION - FLAT FEE $160-$3,000

We handle all aspects of the patent prosecution process, generally, on a flat fee basis.  We respond to Office Actions, pay maintenance fees, file appeals, file applications internationally the PCT, and assignments?

 

PATENT PROSECUTION FEE SCHEDULE

 

DESIGN PATENT APPLICATION - FLAT FEE $700

We prepare and file design patent applications on a flat-fee basis.  The designs must be ornamental and have no functional aspects.  The fee does not include drawings or the USPTO filing fees.

 

PATENT PROSECUTION FEE SCHEDULE

 

PCT NATIONAL PHASE PATENT APPLICATIONS - FLAT FEE $1,000-$6,000

We file domestic patent applications in other countries through the Patent Cooperation Treaty.  The flat-fee rates do not include government filing fees, or the creation of a new patent application.

 

FOREIGN PATENT PROSECUTION FEE SCHEDULE

 

OPINION WORK - FLAT FEE $250 per prior art reviewed

Formal legal opinions can be used to defend against willful infringement and save money during the patent prosecution process.  We provide patentability, right to use, validity, and non-infringement opinions.  Flat fee does not include search expenses, or written report.

 

LEARN MORE ABOUT OPINIONS

 

IP AUDITS

We perform strategic analysis of patent portfolios, pre-acquisition and pre-investment due diligence, analysis of competitor’s patent portfolios, and provide an overall analysis of the strength of a company's intellectual property portfolio.

 

PATENT STRATEGY

We seek to develop a strategy to enhance efficiency in patenting pursuits and reduce costs through an innovative patent operations model.  The model includes aligning intellectual property and patenting activity with the strategic plan of the client, consideration of uses for patents, pursuing defensive and offensive patents, and streamlining the transfer of information using computerized software.