Tip of the iceberg. You can spend a lot more money than that to get a patent
granted. Especially if it anything to do with anything relevant to the USML.
The USPTO can and often does share the application with the DoD and other
branches if they deem it relevant. Sometimes, nothing happens but sometimes
things do. The back and fort can be quite consuming in terms of time and money.
If everything goes your way, you get a patent and a nice plaque to hang on the
wall. Time will only tell if it will make a return on your investment or just
end up as a plaque on the wall. Now if it's a good patent and someone decides
to violate your patent, you can expect to spend over $100k to litigate it in
many cases and you better or walk away.
On the other hand, if you are a U.S. person and the DoD digs their heels in,
there is a rarely used process that makes "classifying" your patent possible,
in which case it may never publish for decades and you'll probably never know
if it's been violated.
I have a wall covered with plaques. About 1 in 10 pays off as a general rule so
if you want to play, be prepared to pay. Don't forget about those maintenance
fees and foreign filings either. $$$$ One other thing, if it's ITAR/USML
related, you require certificate from the state department to file in an ITAR
free country who can do with it as they please otherwise. Have fun litigating
that assuming you even get the patent. It took me 7 years to get my first
Japanese patent. They publish the initial application and let everyone do a
work around then finally grant it. Pretty patent though. Not a plaque. Looks
like a beautiful menu from an expensive sushi restaurant.
Just my experience FWIW.
Best.
Anthony
Sent from my iPhone
On Sep 29, 2015, at 10:31 PM, David Summers <dvidsum@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Agreed, but we are already past that point... we've actually been
funded for several years. If I can get a patent for 5 grand, I'd be
very happy. My last work in getting patents cost me $20K!
(I live in Chicago, the land of expensive lawyers)
Thanks!
David Summers
Crew Marketing
The John Hancock Center | 875 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 3660 | Chicago, IL
60611
P 312.994.2349 | F 312.994.2382 | dsummers@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
On Tue, Sep 29, 2015 at 9:07 PM, Monroe L. King Jr.
<monroe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
My advice take that 5 grand for starters and use it to fly and visit
potential investors. Go to conferences and meet people. Things like that
Use it to make connections that will land you and investor.
Landing an investor is more about connections.
Just my 2 cents.
Unless you have something really good and the investor has an interest
in backing your claim. Because patents take money to protect. If it's
not worth protecting then it's pretty much worthless.
