1. Filing a patent
What – Why – How – Who

2. WHAT can be patented? New and Useful
Process, Machine, Method, Composition, Design
Not phrases, slogans, symbols, logos (trademark)
Not text, art, video (copyright)
Not natural substances or phenomena

3. Patent Search Attorney or Google
Search the text of your Claims in Google Patent
Reference similar patents in your application

4. Provisional Provisional Placeholder that starts patent protection.
No specific format. Could be your thesis.
Lasts for one year
Nonprovisional
Full filing.
Strict formatting requirements.
Lasts 20 years

5. WHY get one? Pros Exclusive rights Resume Cons Public 20 year limit $$
Patent/Trade secret

6. WHAT does it cost? $130 for Provisional Patent Application
$800 – 1300 for Nonprovisional Patent Application
Attorney?
Patent search?
Professional Drawings?
$400 non-electronic filing fee.

7. Attorney Fees
Courtesy of ipwatchdog.com

8. Filing Fees
Application Filing Fees Large Entity Small Entity Micro Entity
Provisional Filing Fee $260 $130 $65
Utility Filing Fee (Non-Provisional) $1,600 $730 $400
Design Filing Fee $760 $380 $190
Reissue Filing Fee $3,040 $1,520 $760
Small entity must have fewer than 500 employees or be non-profit, Micro entity can be connected to an institution of higher learning, or earn less than $170k per year.

9. More Filing Fees
Additional Filing Fees Large Entity Small Entity Micro Entity
Claims in Excess of 20 (Per Extra Claim) $80 $40 $20
Independent Claims in Excess of 3 $420 $210 $105
Petition to Make Special $140 $70 $35
Accelerated Examination $140 $70 $35
Prioritized Examination $4,000 $2,000 $1,000
Publication Fee - Early, Voluntary or Normal $300 $300 $300
Other Publication Processing Fee $130 $130 $130
Surcharge for Late Filing of Fee or Oath $140 $70 $35

10. Filing Fees Patent Issue Fees Large Entity Small Entity Micro Entity
Utility Issue Fee $960 $480 $240
Design Issue Fee $560 $280 $140
Reissue Issue Fee $960 $480 $240
Patent Maintenance Fees (If Timely Paid).
1st Maintenance Fee (3.5 Years) $1,600 $800 $400
2nd Maintenance Fee (7.5 Years) $3,600 $1,800 $900
3rd Maintenance Fee (11.5 Years) $7,400 $3,700 $1,850

11. HOW to pay for it U of A can help you file and will pay for it
Your company
The person who pays for it usually owns the rights to it
Inventor ≠ Owner (Assignee)

12. Patent Contents Background of the Invention
Brief Summary of the Invention
Brief Description of the Drawings
Detailed Description of the Invention
Claim or Claims

13. HOW to Write Your Claims
Specific enough to differentiate from prior art.
Inclusive enough to cover multiple embodiments of the concept.

14. Text Format Requirements
Strict requirements
Numbered paragraphs

15. Drawing Format Requirements
Simple line drawings that can
be easily photographed
Line weights
Shading
Not Technical Drawings
Black and white (unless color is part of the innovation)
Light rays shown with dashed lines where dash length can indicate frequency of light.

16. WHO are Inventors? Patents are different than journal articles!
“An inventor must have contributed to the conception of the invention and to at least one claim on the issued patent.”
Name order does not matter.