Ph.D Electrical Engineering
Registered Patent Attorney- United States Patent and Trademark Office
Registered Professional Engineer - Illinois
Member of the State Bar of California
Inventor, Researcher, Consultant, Patent Holder

Links to DETAILED INFORMATION

PATENTS Detailed information about Patents
TRADEMARKS Trade and Service Marks
COPYRIGHTS Rights of Authors and Artists
LICENSES Giving permission to use an Invention or Mark

GENERAL INFORMATION

Do You Have An Invention?

We can help you or your company obtain intellectual property protection through patents and registered trademarks. We specialize in simple and complex patent prosecution, trademark registration, infringement clearance and patent and trademark litigation and pre-litigation.

A United States patent is allows you to prevent others from manufacturing, selling or importing the claimed invention in the United States.

A Registered Trademark prevents others from using a mark that is confusingly similar in the same line of goods or services.

The first step should always be a search. We use advanced search techniques to determine if an invention is patentable or if a trademark is registerable. While these techniques are quite comprehensive, it is always possible that even after a search, an invention is not patentable or a trademark is not registerable. We make every attempt to prevent this from happening by searching inventions in the US, Japan and Europe.

There are several different types of patents. For example, there Utility Patents for apparatus, processes, chemical compounds, biological inventions including DNA, computer programs, methods of doing business, and articles of manufacture; Design Patents for ornamental features (how things look such as for jewelry); and Plant Patents for certain types of new plants. Most clients are concerned with either utility or design patents.


The Purpose of this Firm

The purpose of this law firm is to provide you, our client, with the highest quality legal advice and services AT A REASONABLE COST. Our practice is exclusively in the area of intellectual property law, especially obtaining patents and enforcing them. We feel that communication is the most important service we can provide. I answer phones personally and try to keep the office open during hours that are convenient for you. We never charge for answering your questions by telephone, email or otherwise. We are very much internet lawyers, and have clients from many states and countries around the US and world. We like to work by email whenever possible since this allows us to communicate with you very quickly and efficiently. However, we will work with you the way that is most convenient to you including, of course, mail, telephone and in person.

Call Us Toll Free?

Call toll free 1-800 230-4037 in the United States or +1 708 528 9092 international, or email.

Our office is open on weekdays with an 800 number that is always available. You are always welcome to call my cellular telephone (708 528-9092) directly. For those times when we simply cannot answer your call, or the system cannot find me, we provide a 24 hour voice mailbox. We always try get back to you as quickly as possible.

We Provide Worldwide Service

We provide worldwide service including patent and trademark entry into the United States from other countries and international protection for US citizens including PCT and EPO. We can provide translations to or from English and other languages.




FEES AND COSTS

Current January - December 2007

PATENTS

Service: Notes: Attorney Fee: Filing Fee
Filing Initial Utility Patent Application Drawings Extra (usually $50-150/page) $4000-$5000 $500*
Filing Utility Patent Application from Provisional Directly from Provisional I filed $2500 $500*
Filing Provisional Patent Application Using Inventor's Sketches $3000 $100*
Filing Design Patent Application Drawings extra $2000 $215**
Keyword Patentability Search Fast Search USPTO and EPO $500-$1000 NA
Full Patentability Search & Opinion USPTO, PCT and other Data Bases $3000 NA
Filing US application from PCT or Foreign Application Drawings extra if needed $3500 Varies
Filing of PCT/EPO Application from US application Drawings extra if needed $3000 ***
Amendment and responding to Office Action Usually takes 2-3 hours $250/hr NA
Paying the Issue Fee and Processing the Issuing Patent Final drawings extra if needed $100 $700**
Recording Assignment (or group of assignments) PTO fee is per assignment $60 $40 per patent or application
Docketing and paying maintenance fee Per fee $50 Fee
Drafting patent license Negotiation time extra $3000-$5000 ****

Note: Drawings cost $50-150 per sheet.

* Small Entity - Utility - 20 claims or less - 3 independent claims
USPTO surcharges:
Each independent claim over 3 = $100
Each total claim over 20 = $25

**Small Entity - Utility - $700 also requires $300 publishing fee
***International rates vary
****Estimated (actual cost of license depends on complexity).



TRADEMARKS

Service: Notes: Attorney Fee: Filing fee
Filing Federal Trademark Application Includes preparation, filing and prosecution $500
 $325*
Full Trademark search and Attorney Opinion Federal and State $2000 NA
Preliminary PTO Trademark Search Search PTO for similar marks $300 NA
Preparing Statement/Amendment of Use For Intent to Use application only $100 $100*
Requesting an Extension of Time to Allege Use NA $100 $150*
Preparing a Trademark Assignment Preparation and filing $60 $40
Preparing and filing opposition, minimum Preparation thru completion of opposition $5000 300*

*Per Class

COPYRIGHTS

Service: Notes: Attorney Fee: Filing fee
Federal Copyright Registration Includes preparation, filing for single work $150
 $35*
Copyright Registration Computer Program Includes preparation, filing for single program $200
 $40-$80**
Copyright Registration Work of Visual Art Includes preparation, filing for single work $200-300
 $30-$40

* Usually requires 2 copies of work
** Source and object code (trade secrets eradicated)





Note: I am licensed to practice law in the State of California, before any court in that state, and before the United States Patent and Trade Mark Office in any matter. I also practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and am a member of the bar of that court, and practice before other federal courts. Clients should be aware that Trade Secrets, contracts and licenses, and state trademark registrations are protected in each state in the US by the laws of that state. I may need local counsel to represent you in these matters for states other than California.

The information on this web site does not constitute legal advice. Legal advice can only be given in person after discussing your particular legal problem or need.

Copyright Clifford H. Kraft 2001 - 2007 All rights reserved.
This copyright notice applies to all pages on this site.










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