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Have you created something new and exciting? A novel invention or a new process for a company? The next step after creating your groundbreaking invention is to protect it from being stolen by someone else.
The best way to do that? Get a patent for it. In the United States, completing a patent application successfully means that the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) legally stops anyone who isn't the inventor (you) from making, using, or selling the product unless you have authorized it.
Sunday, April 20th
Since 1999, LegalZoom has worked to make professional assistance available for people who can't afford high-priced lawyers. LegalZoom works with a variety of legal matters, from forming LLCs and registering trademarks to power of attorney and, of course, patent applications. LegalZoom offers both provisional and non-provisional patents, so you can submit whatever patent application you're ready for at this time.
Costs around $264 for a provisional application
When you purchase the patent application service from LegalZoom, you'll get two things included for the cost: lifetime customer support with your patent, and a peace of mind review which is offered by the in-house team. This is different from professional legal review, which is a separate cost. The costs for the patent application at LegalZoom are broken down so you can see exactly where your money is going. For example, for a provisional patent, the application costs $199, and the federal filing fee is $65. So, the total for your provisional patent application is $264.
Non-provisional costs $3,399+
If you'd like a non-provisional patent, you'll need to look for the Utility Patent on LegalZoom's website. There are two steps to a full utility patent application. This includes step one, which is the preliminary assessment and drawings. This costs $699 and includes an attorney consultation and technical illustrations. Then, you'll have to pay for step two which is the actual filing. This costs $2,700 (before government filing fees). This includes a follow-up consultation, professional preparation of your filing, and finally electronic filing with the USPTO. It's a 100% hands-off experience where you don't stress at all.
Extra costs from $299 and up
During the patent application process, you'll fill out a questionnaire at LegalZoom. As an added extra, you can secure professional illustrations of your invention for $399. If you'd like to add a search for potential patent conflicts to your purchase, this will be an additional $299. If you would like an attorney review from a USPTO specialist, it will be an additional $490.
Refunds within 60 days
LegalZoom offers a product and service guarantee. If they make a mistake with your patent application, LegalZoom will correct the issue for free. For other issues, you can secure a refund depending on the circumstances. You have 60 days to request a refund, as long as your documents have not already been submitted to the government office of the USPTO.
High praise for the overall experience
LegalZoom has improved its reputation on third-party review sites in recent years. On Trustpilot, LegalZoom used to hold a 4.2-star average rating, and our research shows that it currently holds a 4.4-star average out of 5 instead. According to reviews, the experience at LegalZoom was one with courteous and helpful lawyers and customer service reps. Some who used the service noted that LegalZoom made the process simple and "step-by-step” with very little stress involved. Many reviewers stated that they would return to LegalZoom for future needs (including patent applications).
Perfect if you want someone to apply for you
LegalZoom is the most competitive option for a fully hands-off patent application. The staff lawyers will complete and file the forms for you, and you can grab both a provisional and non-provisional form depending on your needs. If you're looking for something that takes all the stress out of your hands, you'll want to check out LegalZoom.
IP Note is designed to help you with your patent application. Standing out for its AI-powered approach, IP Note offers protection for all kinds of intellectual property including trademark registration, design registration, and patent registration. You can also complete an AI-powered patent search on IP Note to make sure that your patent is more likely to be accepted through the USPTO. But, the main event at IP Note is to hire an IP attorney directly. IP Note calls itself the Uber of patent lawyers.
Costs start at $1,200 for securing a lawyer
IP Note offers the full package, which includes access to the IP Note AI assistant, Local IP Attorneys (from 800+ on-staff lawyers), flat fees for secure transactions, and a 100% online registration process that will auto-sync with the USPTO. The process is simple. First, you create a request with the IP Note AI assistant. It will generate offers from local IP attorneys who will help you with your application. You review those offers and then decide who you want to work with. The cost at IP Note starts at $1,200 for the service (but you don't pay until you've selected your attorney, so use of the AI is free). This does not include the $332 of expected government fees for submitting your patent application.
Helpful and detailed AI assistant
There are some additional features with IP Note. When we went through the request process through the AI assistant, it offered us a free patent search to check for similar patents. It completed a range of questions and answers (asking us to describe the product and its purpose). It will ask you for a website or link to your product, but if you don't have one yet, you can simply tell the AI and it will proceed and ask you which type of patent application you'd like to use (provisional or non-provisional). Once the assistant has gotten you in the system, everything you need to track to complete your patent application including file uploads, forms to fill out for your lawyer, and more will be tracked in IP Note.
Refunds do not include commission fees
IP Note guarantees the security of all its transactions, and it also offers a refund policy for its services, as long as you don't accept the results of a task. For example, if you request a refund after accepting a lawyer to do the patent application for you, you will be refunded, but IP Note will take a commission fee and the cost of the lawyer's time that was already spent on the task. If you ask for a refund before the work is started, you'll only be charged the IP Note commission fee. At the time of our review, IP Note did not list what the commission fee would be out of the total cost of the service.
Preview lawyers, but not all are local
If you want a sneak peek at the legal experts who are part of the IP Note platform, you can check out local attorneys before you sign up or use the AI program. In our area, there were over 25 different lawyers. However, even though we selected the United States as our location, not all of the lawyers listed were certified in the US. Many were certified in the UK or India instead. However, this is helpful if you want to work on patent applications that are valid internationally.
High praise from successful applicants
At the time of our review, IP Note did not have a page with the Better Business Bureau. However, it had an outstanding reputation on other third-party review sites like Trustpilot, where it holds a 4.7-star average out of 5. According to recent reviews, IP Note has an outstanding customer service team and provides an easy and smooth process for getting your patent application taken care of. Almost all reviews praise how "simple” IP Note is and the quality of the lawyer database as well. One reviewer noted that despite the program being run mostly by AI, if you have an issue you can get helpful support right away. It's an easy site to use, especially if it's your first time submitting a patent application.
Perfect if you've never applied for a patent
If you're looking for a modern way to get assistance with your patent application, IP Note is the way to go. With high praise from reviewers and successful applicants, IP Note's AI-powered tools for keeping you on track and connecting you to a lawyer make the patent application process a breeze. While it is a little costly, IP Note has everything you need all in one place, taking the stress out of patent applications even for newbies. For this reason, it earns a very high rating in our review and comes highly recommended for those who've never secured a lawyer before or are stressed about the patent application process.
LegalShield was founded in 1999 by Harland Stonecipher, as a platform giving you access to legal advice without the stress of expensive hourly fees. Today, LegalShield provides legal assistance to more than 4 million people and over 140,000 businesses across the U.S. Whether you need help with personal or business-related legal matters, (including patent applications), this service aims to make professional guidance more affordable than many of its competitors.
Hard to dig up the details
According to our research, there is no specific plan for patent applications at LegalShield. Our contact with customer service let us know that personal plans do not include any assistance with patent applications. You will need to secure a business plan that starts at the Essentials Plan pricing ($49 per month). It is unclear if LegalShield offers patent applications for the Essentials plan. Our customer service rep refused to answer the questions about this and requested that we transfer to another sales rep who was a "benefits specialist” instead. We were only able to find the details for the complete contract after adding a plan to the cart, and thankfully the $49 plan does include patents.
Plans from $29.95 to $169 per month
Instead of having patent application packages, LegalShield operates through monthly plans that offer you different levels of legal services and advice.
Notably, these packages are specifically for businesses. If you want personal or family plans, they run from $29.95 for Basic, $39.95 for Advanced, and $49.95 for Premium. They all include speaking with a lawyer and an unlimited number of personal legal issues.
Missing a solid refund policy
LegalShield doesn't have much in the way of a stated refund policy for its patent applications. There are only some brief instructions on the website for canceling your service with LegalShield. We tried to reach out again to customer service, but the answers were vague. The rep noted that members can request a refund, but the request will be "taken under review.” Refunds that are accepted are prorated (if you have an annual membership). When we asked clarifying questions about any requirements, we were again told to transfer, and then we were disconnected.
Top-notch attorney assistance
Despite our less-than-stellar experience with customer service during our research, LegalShield has a reliable reputation overall. It currently holds an "A+” and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau. Plus, on third-party review sites like Trustpilot, LegalShield holds a 4.6-star average out of 5. Customers had high praise for LegalShield and called it "the most beneficial service” they'd ever used for legal matters. Many customers have been using the platform for years, and love their membership. Most businesses are using it for tax law and civil issues, though. While we couldn't find any recent reviews talking about the patent application services, the overall feeling is that attorneys are fast, helpful, and kind.
Great all-in-one legal site
If you're put off early on by LegalShield's less-than-transparent customer service reps, you might want to give the site another chance. LegalShield has a top reputation for helping out with legal matters - and helping quickly. Since the patent application is included in the lowest tier of service, you can get help with your patent without breaking the bank. While we'd love a bit more transparency on the website, LegalShield is still a top contender for all-inclusive legal assistance. If you're looking for a place that handles your patent application without the stress of DIY, you'll want to check out LegalShield.
Rocket Lawyer is a membership-based patent application service, making it a great option if you're looking for legal help beyond just patents. When it comes to patent application documents, Rocket Lawyer provides only one: the Provisional Patent Application. While this isn't as comprehensive as some services, it still gives you the necessary tools to register your patent with the USPTO for 12 months. However, keep in mind that you'll be responsible for filing the documents yourself, as Rocket Lawyer does not handle that step for you.
Costs $39.99 per month or $239.88 per year
The best part about Rocket Lawyer's provisional patent application is its cost. For the first seven days of your membership with Rocket Lawyer, you won't have to pay for anything. You can fill out, download, and edit any document 100% free. However, after the 7-day free trial, you will be automatically enrolled in a monthly subscription. There, you have two options: RocketLegal and RocketLegal+. RocketLegal costs $39.99 per month and includes document creation e-signing, online chat for legal questions, and discounted rates for pro services. If you pick RocketLegal+, you'll be billed annually at $239.88. This gets you all the same features, but the pro services are half-off or free. So, if you keep up your membership after completing your provisional patent application, you'll have access to tons of extras like business registration, Rocket Tax, trademarks, and more.
Three extra patent documents
With Rocket Lawyer, there are three other patent-related documents outside of the patent application forms. You can get a patent application assignment, which is for transferring or selling the rights to your patent application; a patent assignment, which allows you to sell or transfer the rights to a particular patent (for items already patented); and an invention assignment agreement, which allows you to document your intellectual property rights. These are all included in the membership, so you can access them at any time.
30-day money-back policy
Rocket Lawyer offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee for its services. It promises that if you think there has been an issue with the delivery of the patent application documents or a billing issue, you can contact the Rocket Lawyer support team and get a refund or credit for the service. You have 30 days to make a request, and you can also cancel your membership at any time.
Easy to use for simple legal needs
Rocket Lawyer has a top-tier reputation from the Better Business Bureau with a full "A+” rating and accreditation. On Trustpilot, Rocket Lawyer has an equally stellar reputation with a 4.6-star average rating across thousands of individual reviews. Recently, customers have praised how easy the documents are to fill out and complete. For most basic legal needs (including patent applications), Rocket Lawyer is a perfect choice. However, some customers noted that while the service was excellent, some of the documents were "basic" and could benefit from options for more complex situations. Others noted that it's a little difficult to figure out how to cancel the subscription before the free trial ends, so you may need to contact customer service to get it done correctly and not get charged.
Recommended for those on a budget
Rocket Lawyer is a great place to get some free documents if you know how to use the platform. While it isn't the most comprehensive in terms of patent applications, since you can only get a provisional patent at this time, it's worth a look for the completely free downloadable documents during the 7-day free trial. Plus, if you like the service, you can sign up for a monthly membership and get access to those documents at all times. It's a great, low-cost, one-stop shop, earning Rocket Lawyer a balanced score in our review.
Thoughts to Paper is a site designed to help you prepare and submit patent applications at a reasonable cost. Unlike competitors that either charge extremely high fees or offer DIY kits that might not provide enough help if you've never done a patent application before, Thoughts to Paper aims to strike a balance. This service keeps its attention strictly on patents, making it a solid choice for those who want expert support without breaking the bank.
Costs $199 to $799 for a provisional patent
Thoughts to Paper offers four different patent applications for you to choose from: a provisional patent, a utility patent, a design patent, and a PCT international patent. The provisional patent has three tiers of services to choose from, including Basic which is $199 and includes a 12-month provisional patent and an email consultation to help you fill out your documents; Essentials, which costs $499 and includes your 12-month patent, professional drafting and writing, and a phone and email consultation; and the Professional plan which includes all of the features of Essentials plus professional drafting for drawings for $799 total.
Costs $990 to $4,300 for non-provisional patents
For the non-provisional patent applications at Thoughts to Paper, the prices differ based on what you're buying. Here's how the costs shake out:
Flat fee for patent search
On top of the patent applications, Thoughts to Paper offers extras like a patent search or trademark registration. The patent search is a reasonable flat fee of $295, which includes full copies of similar inventions found, written reports on similarities and differences, and a patentability analysis, so you have a better chance of getting your patent approved.
See previous patents
One of the features we love is that you can see the list of patent applications that have already been filed and secured through Thoughts to Paper. In two months alone, Thoughts to Paper secured over 30 different patents for different individuals. You can see patents going back as far as when the company first opened, and the list includes the patent information, date of patent, and the patent number. So, if you're wondering if Thoughts to Paper is reliable, there's hard proof right on the website.
Lack of communication is a new problem
Thoughts to Paper has an outstanding reputation with the Better Business Bureau, where it holds a top-tier "A+” rating and accreditation. However, on third-party review sites, Thoughts to Paper's reputation has fallen in recent years. It used to hold a 4.8-star average on third-party review sites, but now Thoughts to Paper's rating on Trustpilot is just 3.2 stars out of 5. This is due to increasing negative reviews regarding slow service, being ignored by the customer service team, and a general lack of communication across the board. The most recent reviews we could find were from 2024, showing that there might be fewer people using Thoughts to Paper for patent applications than in previous years. While it may still be worth a look, this service needs to work harder on its communication to be more competitive.
Recent concerns lead to a mid-tier rating
Thoughts to Paper used to be one of our top picks, but with the steadily decreasing ratings on third-party review sites and issues with communication, it now ranks as a mid-tier service overall. While the prices are good, make sure that you feel comfortable with the level of communication from Thoughts to Paper (maybe by reaching out to customer service before paying) as you consider its patent application services.
Created in 2001 by two attorneys, Find Legal Forms is designed to make legal assistance more affordable and accessible by offering a large selection of ready-to-use documents. Unlike some websites that focus only on patents, Find Legal Forms covers a wide range of legal needs, including affidavits, property deeds, divorce papers, and living wills. It's a one-stop shop for many legal forms without the high costs of hiring a lawyer. However, you'll want to be a confident DIYer because you'll be filling out and submitting legal paperwork on your own. If this sounds like a great way to save on your patent application, Find Legal Forms might be a great fit for you.
All documents prepared by lawyers
One of the highlights of Find Legal Forms is that every order includes forms that are prepared by active attorneys. Find Legal Forms tells you which lawyer on the Find Legal Forms staff reviewed all the documents (for example, the patent application forms were reviewed by Bahman Eslamboly). You also get a free e-signature with each purchase and know that all of your purchased documents are up to date regarding current legal changes and laws in your area.
Cost $39.95 for the entire package
The easiest way to get your patent application completed through Find Legal Forms is the Patent License Agreements & Assignments Combo Package. This package is priced at $39.95 for all five documents It's designed specifically for your state of residence, to follow all the legal requirements, and includes the following documents:
Some individual documents are free
You can get all of the documents in the package individually as well, depending on what you need (or have already) for your patent application. Find Legal Forms' documents range in cost from $10.95 per document up to $19.95 per document. There are also free forms under the patent umbrella including:
Refunds within 60 days
Find Legal Forms offers a 60-day money-back guarantee. While this site doesn't actually help you with the patent application process (so there aren't any guarantees for success), you can get your money back if you aren't happy with the documents for any reason. So, if you download them and find the patent application isn't something you want to do as a DIY, you can get your money back.
Rating has plummeted in recent years
While Find Legal Forms used to have a decent rating on third-party review sites, it is a little lower than it has been in recent years. For example, Find Legal Forms' Better Business Bureau score has gone down from an "A+” to a "B-”. This is due to the company's failure to respond to complaints from users. Regrettably, it has a lower-than-average rating on other third-party review sites too, with just a 2.7-star rating out of 5. It has some praise still for being a cost-effective option for patent applications, but the limitations on help from lawyers, and issues with check-out for some buyers made using Find Legal Forms less than ideal.
Best if you're a confident DIYer
While Find Legal Forms is a great resource if you want to look for low-cost documents for submitting your patent application, it isn't the most well-rounded approach. If you want legal advice or help with the application process, you're out of luck with this provider. You can get all the files you need in one convenient package, though. With the refund policy, you may still want to check out Find Legal Forms's patent application, just to see if this is something you're comfortable doing alone. However, on the whole, Find Legal Forms earns a below average score in our review due to the lack of dedicated legal assistance and lower customer and BBB ratings than in years past.
Patent Express is a site entirely devoted to patents and patent applications. It's owned by the parent company Trademarkia, and it offers both assistance and the forms for filling out your patent application. All you have to do is describe your idea or invention, upload any necessary files (like illustrations or layouts), and then the Patent Express on-staff attorneys will create and submit your patent application to the USPTO. You can get both a provisional patent and a non-provisional design or utility patent with Patent Express.
Costs significantly more than competitors
If you're looking for the lowest costs, you may be disappointed by Patent Express. It's 100% hands-off for you, but it comes at a price. The lowest-priced option is a design patent, which is $899 before government filing fees. This comes with up to 7 patent drawings, a consultation with a lawyer, and a fully prepared patent application submitted for you. The utility patent application comes in two steps. Step one is $1,500 and includes your consultation and preliminary professional drawings. The second step is $7,000 and includes a follow-up consultation, 6 claims, and a professionally-prepared application. Finally, you can get a provisional patent application which gives you the patent pending status for 12 months and includes patent writing, patent drawing, and an optional video call with an attorney. This package costs $3,500.
Optional faster service or international patents
If you want to get your patent completed faster, you can pay an upcharge. However, the costs are extremely steep. For an accelerated patent application, the price goes up to $13,500 for a utility patent. Patent Express also offers an international patent application if you're looking to protect your invention around the world. This includes 146 countries and costs $6,500.
Uncertain refund policy
According to our research, Patent Express does not generally offer refunds for patent application services. There are no refund statements on the Patent Express website. When we researched the parent company, Trademarkia, we found that refunds depend on the amount of progress that's been completed for your application. However, it is unclear if this policy also applies to Patent Express or if this is only for Trademarkia applications (for trademarks and copyrights).
Concerns about costly revisions
The feedback for Patent Express is found under its parent company, Trademarkia. According to the Better Business Bureau, Trademarkia has a stellar "A+” rating and accreditation. However, the reviews on third-party sites like Trustpilot are more balanced. Currently, Trademarkia has a 3.9-star average from reviewers on Trustpilot. Recent reviews suggest that the attorneys at Patent Express (via Trademarkia) offered top-quality advice and provided complete patent applications with no stress. However, others noted that there are additional charges for revisions, so if the patent isn't accepted the first time, you may be paying much more than the stated price to fix your application and resubmit. Several reviewers complained that the final costs were 3-5 times higher than the listed price.
A little too costly for what you get
While a hands-off patent application sounds great in theory, other sites provide similar services for a more cost-effective price. With already high fees for preparing your documents, Patent Express falls behind the pack a bit, with reviews noting additional costs if your patent application isn't accepted the first time. With no concrete refund policy, this can be a pretty hefty commitment for your wallet. Given the more balanced pricing at other patent application services, Patent Express earns one of our lower reviews.
Like a few other sites in our review, LegalMatch takes the approach of connecting you directly with an attorney. If you need help with a patent application, this service pairs you with a lawyer who specializes in the type of patent you're looking to secure. LegalMatch has been around for over 20 years, so whether you're looking for guidance on patents or other legal matters, LegalMatch makes it easy to find a professional who fits your specific situation.
No pricing listed online
The actual process of finding patent application lawyers is free of charge at LegalMatch. All you need to do is put in your category (Intellectual Property) and select your location. Then, you'll be asked to input a few more details to get to the list of helpful attorneys. The questionnaire should take around 15 minutes, according to LegalMatch. At the end of the process, your details will be sent to matching attorneys in your area. They will contact you if they wish to take your case, and pricing will be determined at that stage. There are no costs listed on the website for LegalMatch, which poses a bit of a transparency problem compared with other patent application services we evaluated.
Length processing time
The process for LegalMatch is much slower than that of other sites that connect you with lawyers for the patent application process. First, you have to submit all your details and then wait 1-3 business days for lawyers to get back to you with pricing and details. However, you'll have to review each lawyer's response and decide among the ones that send a proposal. Depending on your case, you might get a lot of options or very few. You'll be waiting possibly over a week of back and forth before you can get started on your patent application for real.
Plan your patent for the future
One of the features we liked here was that you can plan ahead. You can decide to secure a lawyer for this week, in a few months, this year, or next year. That way, if you're in the process of creating an invention, you can plan your patent application before you need to worry about manufacturing and selling your creation.
Mixed reviews and slow response times
Currently, LegalMatch holds a top-notch "A+” rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau. However, feedback on third-party review sites is a little more nuanced for this patent application provider. According to Trustpilot, LegalMatch holds a 3.5-star average. Our research shows that LegalMatch is a mixed bag in terms of quality. Negative reviews complain about poor communication from attorneys, with high retainer fees (some over $2,000). Some customers never hear from their lawyers, and can't get their money back for the services (even if those services weren't actually rendered). While some customers had good experiences with helpful lawyers who listened and provided real assistance, most agree that the response time is slow overall.
Worth seeing the individual offers
LegalMatch is a decent site to try if you want to field offers from real lawyers to get your patent application put together by a pro. However, if you're looking for a quick, easy, or low-cost service, this won't be the ideal pick for you. It's worth checking out to get pricing from local lawyers, but with mixed reviews and long wait times for responses from attorneys, you might want to check out some other services first.
Quick Patents was created by Kevin Prince to help small business owners and independent inventors protect their ideas. To make sure each patent application is properly written, filed, and approved, Kevin works with a team of experienced professionals, including former patent examiners, engineers, and researchers. This service offers four types of patent applications, but what makes Quick Patents unique is its commitment to pairing you with an expert who has over 20 years of experience in patent law, along with the promise that you'll see your patent pending in a week or less.
Costs from $1,795 to $7,995 for applications
There are seven different patent application options at Quick Patents and they are separated into Rush (which offers you a 1-week turnaround) or Standard (which offers a 3+ week turnaround) for a reduced cost. Here's what you can expect from the options:
Grab patent extras
There are plenty of other services offered by Quick Patents outside of the patent applications. You can complete a patentability search in the US or internationally, priced from $595 to $995 depending on if you want a rush report or don't mind waiting. Quick Patents also offers services like patent and business consulting (starting at $350 per hour), filing of business forms, and more. Quick Patents also might take over a case that didn't originate on its side, but the details note that the service "rarely” accepts these cases.
No guarantee for success
Quick Patents promises to work hard to create accurate documents for you; however, the service does not offer any guarantees that your patent application will be 100% error-free. If there is a refund, it will only be for the search fees (for patentability searches). Other fees or costs do not have a listed refund policy through Quick Patents. Considering the high costs of the services here, this lackluster refund policy may be a deterrent for some.
Mixed reviews on Yelp
In terms of reputation, our research turned up almost nothing. Quick Patents currently doesn't have a page on the Better Business Bureau and there aren't any reviews on common third-party review sites like Trustpilot. We did find some testimonials on Yelp, but there were only 6 total reviews to go off of. While 5 out of the 6 reviews were a full 5 stars, the one-star review claims zero transparency, misleading advice, and higher costs for patent applications than advertised. The mix of high praise and claims of scams (with no other reviews to go off of) raises some concerns about the overall quality of this service. It certainly doesn't seem to be popular, with only 6 total reviews across its years in business.
Too expensive not to have a guarantee
Bottom line? Quick Patents is too mysterious for our liking. The prices are costly, even though there is a thorough set of options for patent applications and a range of timelines that can help you get your patent in if you're rushed. There are almost no reviews for this service, but with claims of scams and unreliable pricing among the few reviews there are, we're a little concerned. Trusting your patent to this company may be fine, according to the reviews on Yelp, but it's hard to trust a company that doesn't offer any quality guarantees. So, Quick Patents earns one of our lower scores until it ups its refund game (or lowers those costly prices).
Patent 360 is an online provider that focuses on consulting for intellectual property concerns. As such, it offers a wide variety of services related to patents, trademarks, copyrights, and designs on a global scale. This company works with a broad range of clients, including individuals, universities, large corporations, and small businesses. Patent 360 claims that its goal is to provide expert advice on your patent application so you can get the best possible results when you submit your application to the USPTO.
Cost from $170 to $3,900 for patent filing
Patent 360 helpfully offers its services at flat-rate fees that are completely transparent. If you'd like a provisional utility patent, the cost at Patent 360 is $179 for the patent and $60 for filing. If you'd like a non-provisional utility patent, the Patent 360 cost is $3,900 with an additional $364 USPTO filing fee. If you're looking for a design patent, you'll pay $999 for the service with an additional $204 for filing. The costs are all simple and everything is listed up front with no surprises. The patent applications cover options for technology and media, life sciences and healthcare, chemical patents, and industrial and manufacturing inventions.
Add extras if you'd like more assistance
Patent 360 also offers a range of other features outside of patent applications, like a patent search report for $399. You can also get patent drafting from Patent 360, but this service is the only one without a listed price. So, you may be looking at a hefty fee there. You'll need to schedule a consultation to get further details.
Patent 360 frequently gets the details wrong
While Patent 360 has an "A+” rating from the Better Business Bureau, it doesn't have particularly strong ratings outside of the BBB. On one review site, Patent 360 holds just 2 stars on average out of 5. According to the feedback we saw during our research, Patent 360 can be more expensive than it claims, and many of the customers who used it had their patent application initially rejected. Inventors who used the comprehensive search feature also had issues with the search turning up unhelpful patents that were not at all similar to the patent they were trying to submit. Others had trouble with Patent 360 not responding to concerns when there were problems or incorrect details for the customer's invention.
Poor Customer Service and Slow Replies
Many customers have said that Patent 360 doesn't do a good job with customer service. People often wait days or even weeks to get a reply, and some say they never heard back at all. This can be a big problem when you're trying to file a patent and need help quickly. Some users said they had urgent questions or issues with their application but couldn't get anyone from the company to respond. When you're dealing with something as important as protecting your ideas, slow or no communication can cause a lot of stress and even lead to serious mistakes. It makes the whole process harder than it needs to be.
Not worth the denied applications
Patent 360 is currently a bit of a red flag. Customers are saying this patent application service isn't worth the stress. With rejected applications, incorrect details about inventions, and lackluster customer service, Patent 360 doesn't stand out from the pack. With low ratings from former customers and prices that are either equal to or higher than better-rated services, Patent 360 earns one of the lowest scores in our review.
Typically, a patent will last for 20 years after you've filed your application. There are three different patents depending on what kind of invention you're trying to protect. Utility patents cover inventions related to machines, manufactured objects, physical items, and/or improvements to these things. Design patents are for the ornamental or physical design of an item, and plant patents are for any distinct or new variety of growing plant including mutants, hybrids, or seedlings.
There are two ways to get a patent too: provisional and non-provisional. A provisional patent application lets you get the ball rolling to protect your invention in the short term. It's less formal, but it does expire after one year, and you must complete a non-provisional patent application in the interim. The non-provisional form will require more substantial details from you and an examination from a patent examiner at the USPTO. However, your patent does remain protected during the review period.
So, once you've got something to patent, how do you complete the process? For most people, patent applications can require a lot of research, details about your invention, filing procedures, and waiting. The process of submitting your patent application can be very tedious, especially the research portion. To successfully secure a patent, your invention will need to be novel (it needs to be something new or not too close to another invention that's already got a patent). But researching every other patent out there can take time (and money).
This is where patent application services come in. In most places, your paperwork will be completed by experts, so you don't have to worry about boring research and details. While a few services offer a low-cost DIY approach, the best patent application providers will give you the documents, complete the patent research for you, and provide guidance on best practices for filling out your patent application the right way the first time. Choosing a patent application service takes the guesswork out of the process and offers secure document sharing, helpful updates, and sometimes guarantees of application success.
If you're ready to get your new invention protected, there are plenty of patent application services to assist you in safeguarding your ideas. To that end, we've put together a few factors to help you choose the best service:
To help you become the next Thomas Edison, Top Consumer Reviews has researched and ranked today's most popular patent application services online today. This way, you can focus on adding new inventions to your list instead of worrying about protecting your intellectual property!
Obtaining a patent for a new product or invention is critical to the success of many small businesses. Several new companies start with the revenue from just one popular product or product line and catapult to greatest from there. By not protecting an invention, with a US patent, a small company can instantly go out of business - when another company steals their idea and subsequently patents the stolen product.
Here are some reasons why many small businesses decide to take out a patent:
Many small businesses are eager to obtain patents. Thankfully, the small business association and PTO (US Patent and Trademark Office) offer user friendly resources to small companies interested in protecting their new inventions or intellectual property - making the process of obtaining a patent more accessible. Prices for legal filings and patent maintenance fees are significantly cheaper for small businesses.
Along with the infringement protection, that a patent offers, the benefit of product credibility and a balance sheet boast are great for those businesses just starting out. However, patents don't come with an automatic security guard. Small businesses have to closely police the market for patent infringement and be willing to cover the expenses of a legal battle if a company won't stop using or selling their invention.
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