Service

Utility Application Prep./Filing (Low 3)

Fixed Fee Quote*

The USPTO offers small/micro entities a 50% patent filing fee reduction.  We are likewise currently, on a limited and selective basis, offering a 50% fee reduction to assist limited budget small/micro entities, who may not be able to otherwise pay our full rates to afford high quality patent legal drafting work.  While our corporate clients can afford our normal hourly billing approach, another way that we are currently helping small/micro entities is to provide a fixed-fee, which cost containment we find that small/micro entities greatly prefer.  Accordingly, above please see Utility Patent Application quotes for various quality levels under this small/micro entity offer that covers most cost –vs- quality situations.  

Normally, the above quotes are our fee to prepare the patent application, and usually do not include any other fees such as patent search, formal drawings, filing, USPTO, Prosecution, or any minor out-of-pocket expenses.  However, under this offer, as quoted above, all our normal case and filing fees and Utility Patent Application and related preparation and priority general retainer fees are being included, as set forth in the written quote we provided you.  If you have not received a written quote then please contact us with a quote request to properly categorize and match your innovation with our service/fee offering that best achieves your business and budgeting goals.

While most clients go with the “Good” level, the difference between these quality levels is generally reflected in the time spent on perfecting, “bullet-proofing”, distancing your patent from the prior-art found, and broadening the claims and specification embodiments of the application.  Generally, the more sophisticated claims, more distance from the closest prior-art, and embodiments (i.e., new versions) a patent has, the smoother the examination process (i.e., winning that patent quicker) and the more patent protection and strength you get in licensing/selling and/or patent enforcement.  So, you should pick the highest level that fits your budget and protection goals.  Usually, if you plan to have your product/service innovation marketed or manufactured/licensed by another, then you will want to procure the "Top Quality" level, budget permitting, because they will often try to design around your idea, esp. if attempts are not made to “bullet-proof” the patent.  For your reference, in our

experience, most other reputable patent law firms typically provide patent quality that corresponds to our "Good Quality" level; however, high-cost tier 1 patent law firms do usually provide patents that match our “Top Quality” level.  Beware, however, that the well known invention/marketing companies (who outsource their patent work to firms like us) typically provide “Basic Quality” patents for what they charge.

 

Additionally, you should seek the “Top Quality” level of service if your invention is expected to have significant commercial potential or you will/have invested significant time and money into developing/launching the product in the marketplace and want to minimize your risk competitor knock-offs.  The “Top Quality” level goes beyond “Good” level by providing far more extensive legal safeguards, distancing of your patent from the closest patents found, broader patent scope, a more complex claim construction strategy optimized to address current case law and licensing trends, and for faster allowance.  A goal of the Top level is to make your patent very hard to design around by competitors and to speed wining of your patent.  Another set of services afforded by the Top level is that our team of Patent/Design Engineers (Elect. Eng., Computer Eng., Comp. Sci., Chem Eng., Mech. Eng., IT, etc.), get involved in the process to technically validate your claimed design(s) and fill in the technical gaps/details needed to help assure that the patent enables the making and using of a commercially viable product/service implementation of your innovation to thereby satisfy the critical enablement legal requirement by the US patent office and US litigation courts.

 

If you have relatively low confidence about the market potential of your invention, or you budget is very tight, then the "Basic Quality" level usually is best.  The “Basic Quality” level of service is a cost oriented approach that usually means that patent scope typically captures your exact invention, and provides minimal legal safeguards and claim construction- ideal for situations where cost containment is the primary concern.  The Basic level will generally be relatively easy to design around by competitors, the Good level hard, and the Top level, very hard to design around.  If you are somewhere in between these cases, then the "Good Quality" level is the best balance between cost verses quality.  

NOTE: * All quality ratings stated are relative to the other fixed-fee options available.  Turn times are priority estimates assuming general retainer and all flat-fees prepaid upfront.

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