Thoughts to Paper Questions & Answers

The fees we quote are the total fees for preparing and filing a patent application. There are no hidden fees. However, there are other steps required to eventually get a patent which are not covered. For example, if you file a provisional patent app, you eventually will want to file a non-provisional full patent app which is an additional service in the future. Further, our provisional patent app service includes a set amount of consultation time with our patent attorneys and agents. If you have a lot of questions and exceed the time, then they start billing by time but we'll let you know before billable time starts. Give us a call and we can go over the process in more detail.

Yes, we will not disclose your information. We can provide an Non-Disclosure Agreement to be signed. Give us a call or email us and we'll send you the paperwork to get the process started.

Jerome, we don't have any template for this. A simple business letter stating your intent seems appropriate, nothing too complex.

I apologize if we forgot to send it to you. I can't find you in our system without your full name. Please give us a call during business hours and someone will be happy to assist immediately. 800-919-2493

An effective patent application contains enough detail for someone reading the application to fully understand how the invention works, and even recreate the invention. Therefore, the more detail you provide us for us to understand the invention the better. One can only cover in a patent application what is disclosed, so the more that is provided, the more that is covered. Provide to us as much as you can, sketches, drawings, detailed descriptions.

These are called methods, and in general they may be patentable but are usually more difficult than physical inventions. Give us a call to discuss and we can loop in a patent practitioner to understand your specific situation.

Give us a call during business hours and we'll be happy to chat with you. Or, send us an email through our website and we can communicate that way as well.

Design and function are two separately potentially patentable aspects of an invention. The design, or shape, of an item may be covered by a design patent application. The functionality, or how something works, may be covered by a utility patent application. To protect both design and functionality, you would likely need both a utility patent and a design patent.

Yes, the US provisional is recognized in Europe, so a US provisional application gives you 12 months to file in Europe and allow the European application to claim the filing date of the US provisional application. Keep in mind that the provisional application must be well written to fully disclose the entire invention.

Harlan: We can assist with this. Best to give us a call or send us an email so we can reply with the details.