FREELY Patenting A Method: in USA and/or EU

2006-08-09 19:27:03

My father wants to patent an idea. He wants to do it either in USA or in the UE. But he wants to do it himself, cause attorney fees are way to high. Any ideas, tips, recommendations?

FREELY Patenting A Method: in USA and/or EU

Reply #1 – 2006-08-09 21:51:16

Patenting is inherently not free, no matter if you leave lawyers out:

http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/qs/ope/fee2006may15.htm
http://www.european-patent-office.org/epo/fees1.htm


As for tips: if it is a patent filling for an utility (not a design or a plant), your father can file the patent online at the USPTO for the reasonably small fee of 75 bucks using the Electronic Filing System
http://www.uspto.gov/ebc/efs/index.html

Another tip related to fees is that patents must be renewed during their life span (usually 20 years). In the USPTO, they demand renewal 3.5, 7.5 and 11.5 years after the patent grant. Failure to comply can result in the patent being dropped, therefore returning to the public domain (look for "Patent Maintenance Fees" in the USPTO fees page)

FREELY Patenting A Method: in USA and/or EU

Reply #2 – 2006-08-09 22:13:52

Applying for a patent is never free, as you have to pay the patent office.
However, it is clearly not mandatory to pay someone to fill the application for you.

You know that you also have to pay each year to maintain a granted patent, don't you?

FREELY Patenting A Method: in USA and/or EU

Reply #3 – 2006-08-09 22:13:54

i would take a look. Thanks for the info.

About fees, problem is that attorneys charge about 20k dollars. And as we have to multiply by 3, you know.

76/100/500 dollars is not an issue, the problem is the attorney fee of 20.000.

FREELY Patenting A Method: in USA and/or EU

Reply #4 – 2006-08-10 15:45:50

Check this out : http://www.sosinvention.com/en/home.asp

An alternative to an international patent, for a 'mere' 10k $

FREELY Patenting A Method: in USA and/or EU

Reply #5 – 2006-08-22 20:11:11

Oh I can do it for free for you...


...if you tell me what the idea is