2008 Fee Information

Our fees are annually adjusted to be in line with the AIPLA economic survey.  This assures our clients they are receiving the highest value of legal services for their money. 

SERVICES WE PERFORM

Our firm specializes exclusively in intellectual property law.  This includes patent, trademark, copyright and related licensing and litigation.  Our attorneys are registered* to practice before the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.  Less than one (1%) percent of all attorneys in the United States have this designation. 

TIME BILLING POLICIES

The minimum billable increment is six (6) minutes.  A detailed time billing report is provided at the end of each month or at the completion of a project.  Our firm strives to delegate work to the qualified employee with the lowest billing rate.  This provides our clients with the most efficient and cost-effective legal representation.  Our time billing reports detail the hourly rate, time expended and detailed description of the work done by each employee. 

ADVANCE OF FEES

Patent, trademark and copyright applications all require payment of a government fee.  Advancing such fees without a retainer in trust is considered "co-mingling of funds" and constitutes a violation of the law and legal ethics.  Prior to any patent, trademark or copyright filing, all fees must be deposited in the firm's trust account.  This money remains property of the client until the actual filing is complete.  Then (and only then) does the firm move the funds to its own account.

For hourly work, the firm generally requires an advance of the estimated monthly fees that will be incurred on the project.  These funds are deposited in a trust account.  At the end of the month or upon completion of the project, funds in trust are applied against the hourly charges incurred by the attorneys and staff.  Excess trust funds may be refunded or kept in the trust fund for future work at the election of the client.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

Occasionally we may decline to accept matters which would be a conflict of interest with another existing or past client.   This should never be construed as an opinion on the merits of the subject matter or desirability of the client.  Regulations on the practice of law and ethics require "conflict checks" to confirm our potential representation of your matters is not comprised by the competing interests of another client.

* All members of the firm are registered to practice before the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO).  All associates of the firm are either registered or practice before the USPTO or eligable for such registration.

Typical Overall Budgets
 

Initial consultation:	$225
Provisional Patent:	$2,500
Patent Search:	$2,400
Full Utility Patent:	$9,600-15,000
Trademark Search:	$1,680
Federal Trademark:	$1,800
Copyright:	$400

DETAILED FEE INFORMATION

Patent Application Fees (HTML)

FEE & PROCESS FLOWCHARTS

Mechanical Inventions (PDF)
Software Inventions (PDF)
Trademark Applications (PDF)

INTERNATIONAL FEE MATTERS

Foreign Patent Filing
Foreign Trademark Filing

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