A patent is a set of exclusive rights granted by a government to an inventor. In exchange for these rights, the inventor discloses the invention to the public fully and freely, allowing others to use it without restriction. This can be done by selling or licensing patents. The cost of a U.K. patent is determined by a few factors: fees charged by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (UKIPO), attorney’s fees, and other miscellaneous costs such as filing fees or design registration.
1. How to estimate the cost of a patent
If you're thinking about applying for a patent, you probably want to know how much it will cost. There are actually quite a few factors that go into determining the cost of a patent, including the type of application you're filing, the patent office that you're filing with, and your patent attorney's experience. And as you'll see below, there are some additional steps involved that are outside of our control. The last thing I'm here to do is to inform you of what you can do in order to reduce the amount of your patent application filing fees (PARFs). But first, let's review some basics. Which Patents Require a Fee? According to the UK Patent and Trademark Office, for a full-featured, standard-type application, it's pretty simple. We've got an entire series of addendums, and it's important to understand what "full-featured, standard-type application" means. Let's take the nine numbered sections, loosely grouped by bulleted groups, for example, 1. Description of invention. 2. Specification of apparatus and methods. 3. Methods for providing feedback to a computer. 4. Method for providing feedback to a processor. 5. Method for providing feedback to a display. 6. Methods for providing feedback to a touchpad. 7. Method for providing text input to a user. 8. Method of providing audio input to a user. 9. Protocol or system for providing a process for providing feedback to a computer. As you can see, each section (except for number 9, which I'll get to in a moment) is pretty self-explanatory. It's not surprising that each section has a section-specific filing fee. But which section is more or less expensive? That depends. When you're just starting out, your first impression upon seeing the formal "DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION, IN SUPPORT OF A PROCEEDING TO AN APPLYMENT." is that it's quite expensive. But if you look at each of the numbered sections carefully, you'll notice a pattern.
2. How much does the UKIPO charge you for a patent?
The UKIPO charges over $1,000 for filing a patent. Unfortunately, UK law discourages us from making accurate estimates, but if you’re unsure how much pathos it will cost to secure a patent, here are a few tips:
Do your research and find out the rate of return for filing a patent. You’ll want to compare the order of magnitude of UK return rates with the patent valuation process within your business. Get quotes from at least 3 quotation services for dozens of relevant metrics.
Next, do your best to get a handle on the credibility of the vendors you'll be using.
Get references from industry professionals within your company, including representatives from Internet marketing and advertising agencies.
Amount of time needed to ensure the successful execution of your plan: Examples of Proof of Investment Into a Patents can be used to quickly assess the time level of investment required. Eligibility tester programs may be a good place to get qualified in these programs.
The success rate of patent applications: When analyzing the number of successful patent applications, you can estimate the total cost of time and money. The greater the expected patent application success rate, the higher the expected filing cost.,000 successful patent applications = total cost of money – time needed
The initial cost to secure the patent: Presenting a demand for a service, an understanding that your own work is essential to society and the economy is often the key to obtaining your first contract to supply X.
3. What other costs are involved in obtaining a patent?
There are 3 costs involved in obtaining a patent. The first is the cost of the patent search. A patent search will cost you anywhere from $500 to $1,500. A patent search is done by an attorney to help you determine if your idea is patentable or if it already exists. The second cost is the filing fee. The UK government has a tax (for the privilege of doing business here) of $456.50 for a spouse and $308.50 for a non-spouse (the penalty for filing fee only). Here is a more detailed breakdown of these two costs: Costs for a patent search: $500 Contacts with attorneys & process server: $45 Bill of Fees: $96.50 Total Contacts: $420 Total Patent Search Fees: $456.50 You need to decide on how to price your contract. You need to price your contract for how much time and effort it will take to get a patent. Since it takes money to get a patent, it makes sense to price your contract for how much money you are going to get. To figure out how much money you are going to get from your contract, determine what percent of the amount you are looking for (for example if you want $25,000, price your contract at $10,000 to determine the percent of $25,000 you get). For our example, we have an idea for a software solution for retailers that validates product information and stores product inventory. Let's say we want $25,000 for a fully developed 100% accurate patented solution that satisfies our list of needs for accurate product data acquisition, system architecture design, and store inventory management. Our cost estimate is $10,000 Note, this number may increase if we get a patent and have to defend the patent and if we need more money for outside counsel for the patent search. However, for our example, we will use the $10,000 number to estimate the cost of our patent search. If you need help coming up with your estimated cost, check out How to Estimate the Cost of a Patent.
4. Can I get my money back if I don't end up using my patent?
If you don't end up using your patent, can you get your money back? The answer is no. The UKIPO will not refund any fees, once you have filed your application. Therefore, if you do not plan to use your patent, you are better off not filing. It is critical to use your application. Let me explain why. Because of the way the UKIPO calculates penalties, you will not receive a refund if you submit an application before you are ready. This means that if you get caught up in the backlog, you could lose your application altogether! A patent can take VIRTUALLY, positively, forever to complete. Despite the sheer eternity of time that a patent can take to complete, if you wait until your application is completed, you potentially could lose it. Thus, it is critically important that you file as soon as possible. Plus, if you don't file, there are some issues that could affect you (like we learned)... 2. Do you have to get everything perfect on your Application? No. Sometimes the wording can get a little "overly broad." However, your Application should explain exactly how your invention works so that it is verifiable. Your Application is your live document. If someone has more questions, he will ask the UKIPO if he might be able to find something in your Application. If the UKIPO says that the person who has filed the Application is right, then you will be happy! If the UKIPO says that you are wrong... well, then you have nothing to complain about (other than the fact that your application is now orphaned... :P Wait... Why Aren’t the Patents Living Up to Their Potential? "Why Aren’t My Patents Working?" My first job out of college was in the semiconductor industry. Due to a specific pricing structure of a major semiconductor company, I extremely badly needed to learn more about patents and software. I will attempt to make this post as relevant to those members of the general public who work outside of the semiconductor industry as possible.
5. How do I find an attorney to help me with my patent?
If you're looking for an attorney to help you with your patent, you should contact the United Kingdom Patent and Trademark Office to find a registered patent attorney or patent agent. It's helpful to find one that specializes in the type of patent you're looking for, which you can find out more about on the UKIPO website.
Once you have your preferred type of attorney (say, general practice, or preferred parties) contacted, they'll ask you for:
Recent, complete patent applications filed in the last few years. This is often the easiest way to find out who owns the exclusive rights to your proposed invention. If you present no evidence, your confidence will be shaken and you'll risk the application being refused.
Evidence of past experience practicing patent law. You should prepare actual applications from your company or from another company using your invention, or from generic descriptions of that invention, if possible. You may need to obtain an addendum to the application, such as a series of questions that asks for "criminally incriminating" evidence of previous patent experience.
Patent publications. One good source for publications related to new applications is the " matsutake " (patent medicine) or " inches " (patent applications): these are weekly, monthly, or quarterly magazines published by the Office. There's a search box on the UKIPO site for it, like this one: Patent Publications Search.
If your attorney can't give you a start-to-finish estimate, you should ask him or her if they know of any fee-only patent attorneys in your area. If this is the case, they can estimate a minimal fee for pro bono work, or offer to work on contingency, given your interest in the patent. There's a list of patent attorney companies maintained by the Office of Patent and Trademark (PET) in the UK Patent and Trademark Office.
If your attorney can't help at all, or rate your estimate too low, you'll want to find out whether any claims are still alive. If your claim has not been claimed (i.e.