Although most legal work seems quite expensive, through our dedication to avoiding unnecessary overhead, we keep our fees very competitive, particularly considering our important attributes.
For example, for our patent attorneys, we usually charge $200 - $250 per hour. Yet whenever appropriate, we utilize highly-experienced and well-supervised patent agents, typically billed at $150 - $200 per hour; paralegals, typically at $75 - $125 per hour, and/or patent law clerks, typically at $100 - $125 per hour.
Also, we carefully manage our commitments to avoid becoming overloaded, and, when necessary, engage additional highly-competent professionals to assist us.
Based upon our experiences, the cost and timing ranges listed in the following table are not unusual for the listed IP protection activities:
| IP Activities | Costs* | Time* | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Provisional Patent Application (Utility) | Low | High | Low | High |
| Patentability Search** | $0/$800 | $2,000+ | <1 | 3 weeks |
| Application Preparation | <$500 | $3,000+ | <1 | 30 days |
| USPTO Fees | $110 | $500+ | N/A | N/A |
| Total | <$610/$1,410 | $5,500+ | <1 | 65 days |
| US Patent Application (Utility) | ||||
| Patentability Search** | $0/$800 | $2,000+ | <1 | 3 weeks |
| Application Preparation | <$3,000 | $8,000+ | <1 | 12 weeks |
| USPTO Fees | $1,200/$2,400+ | $2,000+ | N/A | N/A |
| Application Prosecution | $500 | $5,000+ | <1 | 3+ years |
| Total | <$4,700/$6,700 | $17,000+ | <1 | 3+ years |
| US Patent Application (Design) | ||||
| Patentability Search** | $0/$400 | $1,000+ | <2 | 5 weeks |
| Drawing Preparation | $0 | $1,000+ | 0 | 3 weeks |
| Application Preparation | <$500 | $500 | 0 | 1 week |
| USPTO Fees | $615/$1,230 | $1,500+ | N/A | N/A |
| Application Prosecution | $0 | $1,000+ | 0.5 | 1+ years |
| Total | $1,115/$2,130 | $5,000+ | 0.5 | 1+ years |
| US Trademark | ||||
| Registerability Search** | $0/$500 | $1,000+ | <2 | 21 days |
| Application Preparation | <$325 | $800+ | 0 | 7 days |
| USPTO Fees | $275 | $1,300+ | N/A | N/A |
| Application Prosecution | $200 | $1,500+ | 9 | 24+ months |
| Total | <$800/$1300 | $4,400+ | 9 | 24+ months |
| US Copyright | ||||
| Application Preparation | $250 | $600+ | 1 | 14 days |
| Copyright Office Fees | $30 | $90+ | N/A | N/A |
| Total | $280 | $690+ | 1 | 16 days |
* Note: Very common activities only for single invention, mark, class, or work. Does not include counseling, opinions, exceptional needs, or certain potential expenses, such as translation costs, formal drawings, express mail, travel, or extension, appeal, or maintenance fees. Keep in mind that expenses, the amount of attorney time required, and provider availability can vary widely depending on the specifics of a particular situation, and thus total costs and durations could differ significantly from these ranges. Do not rely on these cost or timing ranges without speaking to us about your particular situation.
**Although searches are generally recommended, they might not be advised in certain situations.