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If you've come up with a brilliant idea and want to make sure it's legally protected, getting a patent filed is an essential step. But first, you should understand the differences between patents and other types of protection, like copyright and trademark.
Copyrights are used to claim ownership of a creative expression, like a book, song, or even a piece of computer code. Trademarks are used to protect a brand name, business name, or logo from being used by other companies. On the other hand, patents deal with innovations: a utility patent covers how an invention works, and a design patent protects how it looks.
Tuesday, May 30th
Thoughts to Paper does one thing, and does it extremely well: patents! While you'll pay roughly the same prices as the other full-service Patent Application Services, this company gives you expert-level service across a much wider spectrum of patent-related needs. Clients have nothing but great things to say about the entire process, saying that the money is absolutely well-spent for the value received. Thoughts to Paper is affordable, reliable, and keeps a tight focus on everything related to everything you'll need to file your patent application. This service easily earns our highest recommendation.
LegalZoom is an extremely reliable source of legal help for practically any need, including Patent Application Services. We love that clients only have to pay for the specific help they want, instead of being required to pay for a package deal. And, unlike many of the services in our review, this provider actually files your application with the USPTO. LegalZoom is one of the best options for completing and filing a patent application.
Rocket Lawyer specializes in providing legal forms across the spectrum, from business needs to personal cases. You can access their Patent Application forms for free with a 7-day trial, or take all of their services for a spin with a $5 Premium trial. After your first week, you'll pay $39.99 per month for continued membership, which comes with some nice perks like lawyer consultations at no extra charge. But, you should note that this Patent Application Service doesn't take the required step of actually filing your forms with the USPTO. And, if you need extras like professional illustrations, you'll be on your own for that too.
Find Legal Forms is the most no-frills Patent Application Service in our review. Your one-time fee gives you access to all of the forms you'll need to file for your patent - but not much else. If you'd like a lawyer to review your documents or answer questions, you'll have to get that help somewhere else. On the other hand, if you don't mind doing some of the legwork yourself, like sending in your forms with the appropriate filing fees, this service could save you some cash.
LegalMatch has assisted in more than two million legal cases across a wide spectrum of situations, including patents and other intellectual property concerns. But, unlike most of the services in our review, this provider only allows you to post the details of your case to a profile and receive responses from attorneys interested in helping you. And, as you might imagine, you'll pay full price for that help. This is a good option only if you're certain that you want to work directly with a lawyer instead of choosing an online Patent Application Service.
Should you use The Patent Filing Company for your Patent Application needs? In a word, no. There are too many question marks when looking at this business: a Seattle address with a Chicago contact number, zero customer testimonials, and an unsecured website with random pages selling apparel are just a few of the ones we found. There's absolutely no reason to entrust your information or your invention to this business.
So, if you've just dreamed up the latest and greatest thing that will revolutionize the world - or if you've just come up with a component that will improve one specific industry - you're on the right track if you think you need to register your patent! But, how do you go about it? Paperwork, filing, fees, and more: if you're not confident that you know all of the steps and when to take them, that's where Patent Application Services come in.
These services vary, from bare-minimum providers that give you the forms to download along with a list of instructions, to companies that have plenty of experience with walking clients through every single step of the process until the patent is officially registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Of course, all of these services come at a cost, in addition to the fees you'll need to pay to the USPTO (which are usually between $70 and $280, depending on your entity size). Fortunately, when you consider the time and stress it will save you to take advantage of a Patent Application Service, rather than muddling through on your own and risking costly mistakes, it's generally well worth the money you'll spend.
As you look over the different Patent Application Services on the market today, how can you tell which one is the best fit for your invention? Here are several factors to consider before making your choice:
TopConsumerReviews.com has reviewed and ranked the best Patent Application Services on the market today. We hope this information guides you to the service that will get your patent registered accurately and efficiently, to protect the hard work that went into creating your latest brilliant idea!
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