Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I just joined Startupnation and I am already addicted to the forums. My partner and I have a new accessory trademarked and it is in the prototype stage. We would like to get a provisional patent and contacted our attorney who took care of the trademark. His fee is $2400. for the provisional and since we are a start up and don`t have a lot of funds we are considering doing the provisional  with a service like Legal Zoom. Has anyone used that service or is there any downside to doing it ourselves ? We do intend to use the attorney for the unprovisional patent when the time comes. 

Thanks,

Deb

Deb,

 

I have used Legal Zoom for a couple of provisional patents. I would suggest reading or getting assistance on how to file a provisional patent and know the critical elements you should have in it. Another idea is to find a registered patent agent in your area and try to get help from them. I filed a provisional patent and then in the following twelve month period I licensed my product out to a company. Soon after we filed a patent application. It has worked well for me.  

Regards,

Deb

If you go to www.uspto.gov you can get all the information you`ll need on a provisional patent. I did it for my invention and it was pretty easy. They have a toll free number you can call as well and talk to live agents that are very very helpful. I also was able to do a zipcode search on the website for local patent agent. One name came up in my area, I called him and even met with him. He helped me SO MUCH, he is a retired patent agent.

For $2400 you are much better off doing a provisional patent on your own. The fees are $110 and this will give you a year to finish a complete patent and claim a patent pending during that year. It is basically some drawings and a description of the invention. They dont even look at it, it is filed for one year and holds that date for you.

Definatley pretty easy to do on your own. If I can do it..anyone can! Just use the help line if you need to, they will walk you though it.

Good Luck, Tracie