19. How to save costs when working with an experienced patent attorney?

How to save costs when working with an experienced patent attorney?

To save costs when working with an experienced patent attorney, it’s helpful to be prepared and organized. Clearly communicate your invention’s details, provide relevant documents and prior art references, and respond promptly to attorney requests. Collaborate efficiently during the drafting process, and promptly respond to attorney’s requests to minimize revisions and additional work.

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save money working with patent attorney
save money working with patent attorney

You can certainly lower the costs for working with an experienced patent attorney in the process of getting a patent for your invention. You can save costs with patent attorneys in the following ways:

Understanding the patent process and being systematic about it

Understanding the complete patent process from idea or invention to grant of patent and being systematically ready with required information and formal actions at each stage. This helps in saving costs a great deal, understanding what is expected at what stage in patenting your invention gives you clarity and you are better prepared with the information ahead of time. This saves most redundant communications like the exchange of email, phone calls, and visits and hence saves a lot of time and money.

Writing detailed and complete invention disclosure

If you understand what is expected out of a good invention disclosure from an inventor and you take efforts to make your invention disclosure as detailed and complete as possible, this saves a lot of time for a patent attorney who is working on your patent application and ultimately results in saving costs.

The invention must be 

  • described in substantial details
  • includes pictures, flowcharts, diagrams where ever applicable
  • Optionally includes experimental data proving novelty and non-obviousness
  • Charts and tables about research and development

This helps patent attorneys in patent research as well as the drafting process.

our detailed section on from idea to complete invention disclosure would be helpful here.

What help do you get from a patent agent/patent attorney when filing a patent for your invention?

In USA both patent agents and patent attorneys/patent lawyers are federally registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Both are licensed to represent clients in : 

  • preparing
  • filing and
  • Prosecuting patent applications before USPTO. 

The patent attorney also helps in providing patentability opinion to the client.

If you are still confused about whether you would end up saving a few thousand dollars by writing and filing your patent application on your own (without the help of a patent attorney) you need to read the section on do I really need to hire a patent attorney?

The process the inventor should follow while selecting the right patent attorney in US to work with and regarding deciding whether to go for the most expensive attorney or the most economic attorney for patenting your invention check our section on selecting the right patent attorney in US.

Prasad Karhad
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