Many US inventors file a Provisional patent application (PPA) to suit their protection needs. Others file a Non-Provisional application. A Non-Provisional (NPA) patent is sometimes referred to as a Utility patent. Design patents can also be filed in appropriate circumstances. Each application has its pros and cons and you should select the right filing type to adequately protect your invention. Please review the following and we are happy to discuss with you your most favorable options and provide written quotes:
Provisional Patent Application (PPA) filing Pros are as follows:
● a PPA allows a less formal application to be filed. This generally correlates to lower costs for preparation
● filing fees with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) are significantly lower
● one year of protection is given and that time can be used strategically to further develop, test and market your invention idea. Further, this year of time allows you to prepare for and evaluate the reception of your invention before spending any more money and effort on your project
Provisional Patent Application Cons:
● the afforded protection only lasts for one year, the application is not published (which may be a benefit or not), and the application will go abandoned unless followed up within the year with a Non-Provisional patent application filing which cross-references the PPA filing
Non-Provisional patent (NPA) Pros:
● affords 20 year protection from the date of filing (once issued)
Non-Provisional patent Cons:
● requires a formalized filed application (as per USPTO rules) so is more expensive to prepare
● filing fees with the USPTO for NPAs are higher than for a PPA filings. We can help you determine if you qualify for Micro, Small or Large Entity status)
We aim to keep our pricing both reasonable and affordable to help all our clients in their pursuit of monetizing their intellectual property. For drafting and filing a basic (non-complex) PPA prices can range from under a thousand to a few thousand dollars depending on the complexity of the invention. A Non-Provisional application can vary in price between a few thousand to several thousand dollars for preparation and filing. Inventors should keep in mind that USPTO filing fees are quoted in addition to our preparation fees. The current filing fee schedule for the USPTO can be found at: www.uspto.gov/learning-and-resources/fees-and-payment/uspto-fee-schedule
Design patent Pros:
Design patents protect the way an article looks; the ornamental appearance for an article which includes its shape/configuration or surface ornamentation applied to the article, or both.
Design patent Cons:
Design patents do not protect the ‘utility’ of the invention idea. PPAs and NPAs are designed to protect the utility of the invention.
According to the USPTO both Design and Non-Provisional patents may be obtained on an article if invention resides both in its utility and ornamental appearance.
We assist inventors in strategically selecting which application or applications best suit their invention. We ask that the inventor fully disclose us all the pertinent information (once a Non-Disclosure Agreement has been signed to protect your confidential information) so we can draft a well-written application. Well-written and issued patent applications should provide robust protection for your invention.
At the same time we are mindful that you want to stay on budget and on time. The better you have your information logically and orderly documented the better the application we are able to write. You enable us to enable your invention!
PPAs can be prepared by Innoventive Patent Group generally under $1000.00. NPA pricing starts at $4799.00 depending on the complexity of your invention. Design patents are typically in the $2000.00 range. We encourage you to shop around and seek out value for your hard-earned money.
Feel free to visit our website at: www.innoventivepatent.com
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