A typical utility patent costs about $10,000 to $20,000 dollars. Generally speaking, a design patent is well below that range, and a software patent may be more.
You’re probably saying, “Wow! That’s a big range!” But the truth is, how much a patent costs depends on its complexity. And its complexity depends on several factors, including: the technological field of your invention; what prior art exists; how any applicable prior art describes a similar idea; and whether the best prior art was available to us before the patent application was drafted, or after the Patent Office brought it to our attention.
The costs associated with applying for a patent make getting the right research done beforehand a sensible option. With the right prior art research, and consultation with a patent attorney who understands your reasons for seeking patent protection, you’ll have the information you need to make an informed decision about whether to go ahead with a patent application or allocate your resources toward something else.
We do a patent evaluation for every new client because we want to see you get the most out of your idea—and your resources, without wasting money on a patent application that probably wouldn’t get approved anyway. The way we see it, it’s better to know in advance if your idea has a real shot at patent protection, and whether the protection you could get would actually have value for you and your business.
