3 Tips For Saving Money On Your Patent While Still Seeking Legal Assistance
If you have come up with a really great idea, you probably don't want anyone to steal it. Luckily, this is where filing a patent comes in handy, but one thing that can hold you back is the cost of filing that patent. You might have thought about filing your patent yourself so that you can save money in the process, but a patent application is a surprisingly complicated thing for someone who doesn't know what they are doing. Luckily, you can still enjoy the benefits of legal assistance while saving a bit of money on your patent filing if you follow these tips.
1. Shop Nationally for a Lawyer
You may think that you need to look for a local patent lawyer to help you with your filing. In most cases, it's true that it's smarter to hire a local lawyer, since local laws can vary widely. However, since patent law is actually federal law, you don't actually have to hire a local lawyer to help you. If you live in an area with a higher cost of living, you may benefit from hiring a lawyer in another state with a lower cost of living and working together over the phone, via Internet or via video conference. This is a great way to save on legal fees.
2. Learn as Much as You Can on Your Own
There is a host of information out there that can help you better understand the patent filing process. For best results, look for reputable sources, such as information about the patent process that comes directly from the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Although your attorney works for you and will be willing to answer your questions, spending a lot of time asking questions can result in more billable hours. Since there is so much information available online, you should be able to do a lot of your own research; then, you can save the billable hours for when your attorney is actually helping with the paperwork.
3. Write Your Own Draft
Even though it's best to let your attorney come up with the final draft of your patent application, you can always start drafting it yourself to save time and be a part of the process. Following DIY advice can help you create your draft on your own; however, you'll have more confidence if you have an attorney look over and revise your application as needed before it's submitted.
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