Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a patent (a design)?
First, keep your idea strictly confidential using confidentiality (non-disclosure) agreements where necessary.
Second, talk to us! An initial consultation is free, and we can guide you as to next steps and costs for protecting your idea. We are covered by client attorney legal privilege and an obligation of confidentiality under our Code of Conduct set by our Regulator, the IP Regulation Board (IPReg).
How much does a patent (or design) cost?
The process of applying for a patent can be time-consuming and complex (designs less so). As specialists, we devote our expertise to securing the best intellectual property we can for you at the best price. You are not buying a commodity, you are buying a legal monopoly. Within limits, we can accelerate matters or slow matters down and this will affect how quickly costs arrive, which can help with cash flow.
Initially most of the cost for preparing a patent application is professional drafting time and this can vary widely from invention to invention. For very simple inventions you might pay £2500 to £3000 plus VAT, but for highly complex technical inventions you might pay £5000-£8000 plus VAT or more for preparing and filing a patent application. To secure a UK patent all the way to grant you might pay £5000 to £10000 plus VAT in total. Please contact us and we can provide you with our patent information leaflet which has further details of procedures and likely costs. Indeed, once we have spoken with you we can provide a firmer cost estimate for an initial patent application.
For a registered design application the cost may be £500 to £1000 for a single design, depending upon the input we have in advising on and preparing drawings or photographs.
Is it worth filing a patent (a design)?
In exploiting ideas, do not underestimate the importance of protecting your ideas but also the time and entrepreneurial skill required to bring these to market, in other words, when it is time to make deals, make deals!
Intellectual assets, patents, designs, logos, trade marks, copyright etc. can be extremely valuable legal monopolies. Indeed, these may be the most valuable assets in a business, especially a consumer or technology business for licensing revenues, raising finance and opening doors.
We find that providing our clients with protection for their IP and, importantly, the ability to talk cogently and knowledgeably about their IP can help them to make deals. Deals make money and open doors to opportunities.
For more information about IP and how to exploit your IP successfully, take a look at the UK IP Office's IP Training and Tools for business here https://www.ipo.gov.uk/ip-support/ . The IP Healthcheck and B2B toolkit are particularly helpful.
Who can I tell about my idea?
Initially, tell no one about your idea except with an obligation of confidentiality, usually in the form of a confidentiality (non-disclosure) agreement. We are regulated and covered both by legal privilege and an obligation of confidentiality under our Code of Conduct set by our regulator, the IP Regulation Board. We can prepare a confidentiality agreement for you, in editable form so you can use it (with careful attention on your part) without further input from us in multiple situations.
How do I get started with a patent (or design)?
Get in touch with us here at Capella IP, an initial consultation is free. We frequently advise individuals and companies at the very start of this process. We can also point you to free, reputable online resources to raise your awareness of IP and how it can be used.
Why use a Registered Patent Attorney?
Intellectual Property is a complex field of law that requires both legal and technical expertise. Registered Patent Attorneys have both and are highly qualified, having as a minimum a technical degree and legal qualifications recognised and approved by the UK Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys and the IP Regulation Board. European Patent Attorneys also have legal qualifications recognised and approved by the European Patent Institute and the European Patent Office.
Will Brexit affect my patent or design application?
Patents and the patent system are unaffected by Brexit. The current system for granting patents in Europe, the European Patent Convention, is entirely independent of the EU. The existing European patent system will, therefore, continue as normal and we will continue to represent you as European Professional Representative(s) before the European Patent Office.
EU Registered Trade Marks (RTM) and EU (Community) Registered Designs (CRD) are different. These are registered in the EU via a single registration procedure at the EU IP Office. Upon Brexit these IP rights (EU RTM and EU CRD) will no longer be effective in the UK. They are cloned rights. For further information, see this update from the UK IP Office: Intellectual Property after 1st January 2021.
Please contact us for more information or to discuss further.
