Going from Provisional to Full Patent Application

Business Forum

Inventing & Intellectual Property

Developing Your Invention

Going from Provisional to Full Patent Application

New Topic

Post Reply

Follow Topic

Page of 2 Next »

Author
Message

mrsmuir

posts: 7

Mar 11, 2009 11:31 AM ET Quote Report Abuse

Points: 0 Vote

Hi,

I am about to have my provisional patent run out (July 09) which I applied for through Legal Zoom. I am starting to feel uncomfortable about not using an attorney from here on out. I am told that going through the full patent app trademark, LLC etc can be very costly. As a new inventor and start up, how do people get pass these obstacles? Can anyone give me a ball park figure on what to expect if I go ahead and find an attorney?

patentandtrademark

posts: 1332

Mar 12, 2009 6:54 AM ET Quote Report Abuse

Points: 0 Vote

The best assumption here is that the money you spent on LegalZoom was a total waste - meaning you spent money trying to do it yourself and now have absolutely no benefit from having done that. It`s kind of like taking a couple of swimming lessons, then entering the Olympics. That having been said, and that money having been wasted, you may be able to spread out the expenses by not trying to do it all at once - e.g. file application for patent, wait 6 months and form LLC, wait 6 months and file trademark registration, etc. Hire a lawyer or wait until you can hire lawyer.

-------------------------

James Lindon, Ph.D. Patent Attorney
Lindon & Lindon, LLC
Cleveland, Ohio
Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, Pharmacy Law, Litigation
[this is not legal advice - provided for discussion only]
Intellectual Property for the Individual and Small Business: Identify, Protect, Enforce, Defend.
"Fools rush in where angels fear to tread."
http://www.LindonLaw.com

mrsmuir

posts: 7

Mar 12, 2009 8:21 AM ET Quote Report Abuse

Points: 0 Vote

Thank you for your response. I don`t consider it a waste of money though- nothing is a waste when you are reaching a goal. I got the provisional patent to be able to see if my invention is marketable. It is, now I am moving forward with more security and peace of mind by finding a lawyer who understands me and my product.
My original question was to find a ball park figure as to what the retaining of a lawyer, fees etc would cost me in approximately.
Thank you though for your response-

TigerTaco

posts: 337

Mar 12, 2009 8:56 AM ET Quote Report Abuse

Points: 0 Vote

I think getting a ballpark number online is going to be hard as there is too much unknown about what you have cookin` ... just about all the lawyers will give you a free initial consult to review their services and costs as they apply to what you have in mind; that`s also the way to find one who is going to "mesh" with your personality and product.

I can`t see where you are in the country, but there are "inventor groups" all over and going to one of their meetings to meet others who have been thru what you`re doing is a very positive experience and you can find out who they have used in the local market; ditto for hitting up your local chambers and SCORE offices for referrals ... point being is to ask around on the local level to see who has been doing good things; just seems if you`re going to use a professional services firm your best choice is going to be someone you can meet eye-to-eye.

There are also other options ... and you can explore them in tandem with the above as the more you learn the better you will be prepared to deal with whatever direction you go. One is to go to USPTO and find one listed with them (also read around in there as they are the place that really counts) ... also consider if you use the services of an agent as they are cheaper (for a reason but not everything requires the initial cost of a lawyer)

If you`d like to stay online with this process you can also check out a site called Dirt Cheap Patents ... I`ve talked to Kevin and some inventors who have used his services and I don`t have a problem offering him up to you (can`t say the same about similar services).

Anyway, this is long as I`m rambling ... bottom-line: don`t stop or give up ... I haven`t touched on the whole "I don`t have any money" thing and I know that`s significant, but it is a longer topic and again you haven`t provided much in the way of what do you have to work with and what you have done in the past nine months (e.g. did you do a sales sheet and try the licensing route?)

LSnyder

posts: 29

Mar 12, 2009 10:35 AM ET Quote Report Abuse

Points: 0 Vote

Hi Mrs. Muir,

My name is Lisa and I work for Daniel Pepper, who is an intellectual property lawyer. He is the founder of Pepper Law Group, LLC which is located in Somerville, NJ. I know attorney fees can become great than your means so we offer online legal services with flat rates for registering your LLC or Corporation, Trademark Searches, etc. Take a look at our website www.informationlaw.com. If you have any questions, please feel free to give me a call at the office as we also offer a 1/2 hour free consultation.

Good luck to you and I hope that i was able to help.

Lisa Snyder
lisa@informationlaw.com
Pepper Law Group, LLC
908.698.0330

mrsmuir

posts: 7

Mar 12, 2009 2:38 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

Points: 0 Vote

Thank you so much for the above responses. Lisa, I will log on to the site and take a look. Thank you.
Taco Guy, I LOVE your invention- your blog, website and your insights .... its inspiring! It is simple yet affective. That is what I am looking for. Thanks so much for the input. If you can do it, so can I!
I am going to look for an inventor group in my neck of the woods- Vegas. Thanks again.

patentandtrademark

posts: 1332

Mar 14, 2009 8:10 AM ET Quote Report Abuse

Points: 0 Vote

No reasonable person wants "dirt cheap" anything - lawyer, dentist, surgeon. Dirt is cheap for a reason.

As for LegalZoom, in most cases I`ve seen, they give a false sense of security that a person is obtaining some sort of legal protection - which is almost always false in the case of patents.

patentandtrademark

posts: 1332

Mar 14, 2009 8:37 AM ET Quote Report Abuse

Points: 0 Vote

Is Dan Pepper a patent attorney?

-------------------------

James Lindon, Ph.D. Patent Attorney
Lindon & Lindon, LLC
Cleveland, Ohio
Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, Pharmacy Law, Litigation
[this is not legal advice - provided for discussion only]
Intellectual Property for the Individual and Small Business: Identify, Protect, Enforce, Defend.
"Fools rush in where angels fear to tread."
http://www.LindonLaw.com

mrsmuir

posts: 7

Mar 14, 2009 12:17 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

Points: 0 Vote

Good point...and because of my uneasiness from here on out, I agree with the legalzoom aspect. Its just hard to either have to "sit and wait" till funds are available to hire a lawyer, or to go a less inexpensive route when they claim they can do so much for quite a bit less.

Since the first post though, I have had many opinions on this subject and the concensus is to hire a lawyer or patent agent.

TigerTaco

posts: 337

Mar 14, 2009 2:37 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

Points: 0 Vote

"Dirt Cheap" is a marketing hook ... ala. "Discount Tire" ... tried and true and pointless to debate on the merits of the name and not the services or value rendered (ditto for going the other way with someone who has a "value" name).

Page of 2 Next »

Post Reply

Keep the Community Clean!

StartupNation forums should be used as a platform to learn, educate others, share stories, tips & tricks and to provide constructive feedback.
Please do not use the Forums for advertising & blatant self-promotion.
Please be respectful to other members and refrain from personal attacks and vulgar language.
StartupNation reserves the right to delete any message, reply, and/or member who violates our terms of use.

Read full terms of use

Contact Us Privacy Terms of Use Become a Marketplace Provider Advertise Local Guides Site Map Home Business Start a Business

Business Forum

Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Going from Provisional to Full Patent Application

Keep the Community Clean!