David S. Alavi, PhD
        Registered Patent Agent

Costs for obtaining a patent

Obtaining a patent can be a costly enterprise. My hourly rate for new clients is $160/hour, and there are minimum fees for preparing and filing a new patent application. In the table below I have summarized approximate costs for preparing, filing, and prosecuting a patent application, obtaining an issued patent, maintaining a patent in force after issue, patent searching, patent drawings, and technical writing. For most services I require a minimum deposit of at least $3000 before beginning work, and payment of any remaining balance of PTO and professional fees upon completion and prior to filing in the PTO. I provide written cost estimates before beginning work.
Effective 10/01/2008.  Please note: all fees are scheduled to increase on 01/01/2009.
Download a PDF version of this table here.
Service My Fee PTO Fee* Notes
prepare patent application
U.S. provisional or U.S. non-provisional
 $160/hr  $110-$1000
or more
U.S. provisional application: minimum fee $3200  $110 includes supporting
documents/drawings
U.S. non-provisional application: minimum fee $4000 $462-$1000
or more 		includes supporting
documents/drawings
U.S. non-provisional application: minimum fee
based on previous U.S. provisional application
 $1600 $462-$1000
or more 		includes supporting
documents/drawings
PTO-based search: 3 week turnaround
simple mechanical		 $800   includes NPS**
search fee
PTO-based search: 3 week turnaround
mechanical/electrical/computer/Internet/optics		 $1200   includes NPS**
search fee
PTO-based search: all areas
1 week turnaround		 add 50%   includes NPS**
search fee
PTO-based search: all areas
3 day turnaround		 add 100%   includes NPS**
search fee
simple response to PTO action $160/hr
$500-$1000		    
complex response to PTO action $160/hr
$1000-$4000		    
patent allowance and issue fee $480 $755-$1055  
patent maintenance fee: after 3 years $320 $490  
patent maintenance fee: after 7 years $320 $1240  
patent maintenance fee: after 11 years $320 $2055  
file international (PCT) application Request
based on previous U.S. application		 $1000 $2000-$4000
or more
  
liaison with foreign patent counsel $160/hr    
* PTO fees for an individual inventor, small business, or non-profit organization. Subject to change by the PTO.
** National Patent Services

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