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Patents and Fees: An Overview
from: Lisa ParmleyGaining a patent on your invention can be an expensive
undertaking. From beginning to end, here are the basic fees you
will need to be prepared to pay. Please realize that many others
may crop up depending on how complex the prosecution becomes for
your patent.
First of all, the PTO will expect you to pay a filing fee on
your patent application. Fortunately though, the filing fee is
not due immediately. You may choose to send in the filing fees
later during the prosecution. There are different fees for
different application types. Different fees for various
documents. And different fees for the petitions that may need to
be sent in during the prosecution.
As you can imagine, the mere filing of a patent application is a
fairly expensive ordeal. To make matters worse, the PTO actually
charges fees throughout the entire process. At the very least,
you should expect to pay a filing fee and an issue fee (but
remember, you won't need to worry about this right away - it can
take well over 2 years for your patent to be allowed).
Maintenance fees must also be paid on every utility and plant
patent at three intervals once it is granted. At worst, you may
have to pay these fees (filing fees, issue fees and maintenance
fees) plus fees for several petitions, fees for late filed
IDS's, extensions of time, disclaimers, appeal-related fees and
fees for a request for continuing examination among many other
fee related extras. It is best to know the fees associated with
gaining a patent up front so that you can budget your expenses
later.
About the author:
Copyright © 2005 Lisa Parmley - Registered Patent Agent Receive
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