What Does a Utility Patent Cost?

If you have a product or invention that is new and useful, you may want to protect it with a patent. Utility patents are the most commonly granted type of patent.

These patents cover a machine, process, matter composition, drug, or chemical and give their inventor exclusive commercial rights for 20 years. However, the patent holder may have to pay maintenance fees over that time period.

Costs to file a patent application

Generally speaking, the cost of filing a patent application depends on a variety of factors. Depending on the type of invention and what you want to do with it, the cost may vary from several hundred dollars to tens of thousands of dollars.

The costs to file a utility patent application can range from $280, $140 or $70 for applicants who are classified as a “large entity”, “small entity” or a “micro entity”. If you are planning to file more than 3 independent claims, or 20 total claims, there is a fee of $460, $230 or $115 per claim.

A utility patent can protect your intellectual property for up to 20 years. But it’s important to remember that you will need to pay maintenance fees each 3.5, 7.5 and 11.5 years after the patent is issued in order to maintain its enforceability.

It’s also a good idea to budget for the cost of responding to any office actions and paying an issue fee if your application is rejected. This is where your patent lawyer’s experience and expertise will play a big role in the final cost of your utility patent.

Costs to obtain a patent

Obtaining a patent is an expensive and time-consuming process. However, it can protect your intellectual property and prevent others from utilizing your idea without permission.

Utility patents are the most common type of patent to receive, and they offer inventors a significant amount of protection. The cost to obtain a utility patent can be substantial, though.

The cost of obtaining a patent can vary depending on the type of invention and the law firm representing you. In general, utility patent applications are much more costly than design patents.

In addition to drafting and filing, additional costs can arise during patent prosecution. These include responding to office actions, paying issue fees, and negotiating with the USPTO.

About half of the total costs associated with a utility patent are incurred at the beginning of the application process. The other half is incurred about 9 months to 2 years later, depending on whether a request for expedited examination of the application is filed.

Costs to maintain a patent

Patents for inventions are the most common type of intellectual property. They protect inventions regarding processes, machines, manufactures, compositions of matter, and improvements.

Typically, these types of inventions have an obvious practical application that is not too abstract or theoretical. Examples of such inventions include computer software, medical equipment, chemical compositions, and genetically altered life forms.

The costs associated with obtaining and maintaining a utility patent vary widely by technology, but they are generally more expensive than design patents. Costs include legal fees, government filing fees and out-of-pocket expenses such as professional drawings.

Costs to prosecute a patent

One of the most important factors in determining the success of a patent application is its prosecution. This includes all the work that goes into drafting, filing, and negotiating with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

The prosecution process will cost between $5,000 and $7,500 for a high quality utility patent application. This will include attorney’s fees, USPTO filing and examination fees, and other related costs.

Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide how much time and money you want to invest in obtaining your utility patent. But it’s a good idea to start planning for these costs as soon as you can, so that your patent has the best chance of being issued and protecting your invention.

The cost of a utility patent will vary depending on the scope of coverage, complexity, and description length. However, the average cost of a utility patent in the United States is over $50,000.