What is the average price of a patent lawyer?

Question

I have heard the fee is around $9,000.

Answer 1

Legal fees for a simple patent generally run in the area of $4500 to $7500 depending upon the complexity of the simple idea, and sometimes, where you live. Some law firms will work on a flat fee basis, including all costs and legal fees; others will work on an hourly basis. By the time you have a patent application which is filed, you can expect to have spent from $2500 to $4500 on the application itself. This does not include any office actions or the base issue fee the government charges if your patent issues.

The normal time to complete the Patent Application process from start to finish is about 18 months. During that time your application is submitted to a Patent Examiner at the U.S. Patent Office who does his own patent search looking for similar inventions. Once this is done, the Patent Examiner will review your application and compare it to patents found in his search as well as general engineering principals and his personal experience in your area of art. The examiner will contact your Patent Attorney with formal requests for changes in your application or reasons why the Examiner feels your application does not deserve a patent. If your Patent Attorney can satisfy the Examiner’s inquiry and requests, your patent will be allowed and you will be required to pay an issuance fee to the Patent Office. During the 20 year term of the patent, other fees will be due to keep it in force.

The basic fee for filing an application for a utility patent ranges from $370 to $740,dependant on whether or not the applicant is entitled to status as a small entity(independent inventor, small business concern, or non-profit organization).

Issue fees (charged by the Patent Office if your patent application is approved) for utility patents range from $675.00 to $1300.00.

Maintenance fees are due at 3 1/5, 7 1/2 and 11 1/2 years from the date the utility patent is granted.

Answer 2

Very expensive, but try www.Legalzoom.com before you spend a bunch of money.