http://www.ipwatchdog.com/2008/12/03/starting-the-patent-process-on-a-limited-budget/id=664/ Patents, Software Patents, Patent Applications & Patent Law Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:54:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://www.ipwatchdog.com/2008/12/03/starting-the-patent-process-on-a-limited-budget/id=664/#comment-16837 Ray Roberts Wed, 03 Nov 2010 19:37:49 +0000 http://www.ipwatchdog.com/?p=664#comment-16837 A couple comments on pricing, from a 15 year patent attorney in a small West coast firm: For new clients we estimate $2.5k (or more) for a provisional. If 'sticker shock' does not end matters, we have a client that has reasonable economic expectations. For provisionals our average is in the $1,800-$2,000 range; my least expensive was $1,200 (6th case for a serial inventor who writes for a living and has sold issued patents for 6-digit amounts); and my most expensive was $6k (4-day filing rush for a new client that was clearly going to be 'high maintenance'). In particular, we tell clients that only 50% a provisional's cost is usually applicable to a non-provisional. Filing, docketing, non-provisional reminders, and especially re-familiarization after a year has passed all have to be accounted for. Finally, the one thing I see a lot of provisional filers overlook is budgeting for PCT and/or foreign applications to be filed by the same deadline as a non-provisional. A couple comments on pricing, from a 15 year patent attorney in a small West coast firm:
For new clients we estimate $2.5k (or more) for a provisional. If ‘sticker shock’ does not end matters, we have a client that has reasonable economic expectations. For provisionals our average is in the $1,800-$2,000 range; my least expensive was $1,200 (6th case for a serial inventor who writes for a living and has sold issued patents for 6-digit amounts); and my most expensive was $6k (4-day filing rush for a new client that was clearly going to be ‘high maintenance’).
In particular, we tell clients that only 50% a provisional’s cost is usually applicable to a non-provisional. Filing, docketing, non-provisional reminders, and especially re-familiarization after a year has passed all have to be accounted for.
Finally, the one thing I see a lot of provisional filers overlook is budgeting for PCT and/or foreign applications to be filed by the same deadline as a non-provisional.

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