Patent Prosection Costs

Peter Zura’s 271 Patent Blog reports on the Congressional testimony [PDF] of the First Vice-President of the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) concerning the average cost to prosecute and obtain a patent.

The Average Cost of Preparing a Patent Application:

• To prepare and file an original application of minimal complexity (10 page specification, 10 claims) by a firm the size of Sughrue Mion, PLLC (an IP boutique with over 100 IP professionals) $8,548.00
• Mechanical cases (relatively complex) $11,482.00
• Electrical/computer cases (relatively complex) $13,684
• Biotechnology/chemical cases (relatively complex) $15,398.00

The Average Cost of Filing an Amendment:

• Minimal complexity $2,244.00
• Mechanical case (relatively complex) $3,506.00
• Electrical/computer case (relatively complex) $3,910.00
• Biotechnology/chemical case (relatively complex) $4,448.00

The government fees for those filings are $1,030.00 (unless the Applicant is a small entity).