Frequently Asked Questions

Please reach us at enquiries@patenthelp.co.uk if you cannot find an answer to your question.

How much does it cost to get a patent granted?

Every patent case is different, but as a rule of thumb you should expect to pay between £2,000 and £4,000 to get a patent granted in the United Kingdom using Robertson IP. This includes the Patent Office's pre-grant fees, which come to £310 for most applications, and it also includes VAT.

Once a patent is granted, you will need to pay yearly renewal fees to keep it alive.

Getting a patent granted outside of the United Kingdom costs a lot more, and varies by country. We are happy to discuss your needs and provide an estimate.

Fair and transparent pricing is at the heart of what we do, and you can always see our up-to-date price list on our website.

I'm on a budget. Can you help?

Yes. Unlike most patent and trade mark attorney firms, we are used to working with cost-sensitive clients. We understand that the patent process is very expensive, and we have developed strategies to derive maximum benefit from the intellectual property system for clients who don't have limitless resources.

At any point during our working relationship, you can set a fixed budget, and we will get as much work done within that budget as we usefully can, prioritising the most important work. We will then hand the work back to you for completion.

We also offer a fixed price service for the UK only, which may be useful in some circumstances. You can find more information about this elsewhere in the FAQs.

How long does it take to get a patent granted?

In the UK, a patent cannot usually be granted until 21 months after the first filing for that invention. In reality, it takes two to three years, depending on the backlog at the Patent Office.

There are ways to speed the process up, but they result in a weaker patent and aren't generally recommended in most cases. You might be interested in speeding the process up if you are not intending to use the patent for enforcement or fund raising, but only for tax relief under the Patent Box.

There are also ways to slow it down, if you want to prolong your patent pending status for four or five years.

Outside of the UK, time scales vary according to the local patent office, but the minimum period of 21 months applies in many jurisdictions.

Can I get a worldwide patent?

The short answer is 'no'. There is no such thing as a 'worldwide patent'. You can apply for a patent for your invention in multiple countries around the world, if you choose.

There are some regional patent offices, such as the European Patent Office, which can grant patents with effect in multiple countries.

You can also submit your patent application under the Patents Cooperation Treaty (PCT), which makes the administrative process of applying for a patent in multiple countries simpler, and gives you longer to raise the money to do so.

Filing a patent application outside of the UK is expensive. As a very approximate rule of thumb, expect to spend about £10,000 per country over the twenty year lifetime of your patent, with most of that cost in the first few years. It will be more in countries that do not use English, because of translation fees, and it might be less in some countries that do use English.

Robertson IP can help you through every step of this process, in any country you choose. Get in touch for a more precise set of cost estimates.

What is your success rate?

We don't keep data on how many of our patent applications are granted. This is because it would not be a useful measure of the quality of our work. When a patent application that has been prepared by a professional is unsuccessful, it is usually because the invention was not new and inventive. It is the responsibility of the inventor, rather than the patent professional, to come up with a new invention.

According to data published by the UK Patent Office, about 30% of patent applications are successful. Only 5% of patent applications filed without professional help are successful.

Do you offer a 'fixed price' service?

We offer a fixed price patent application service for the UK only. For £2,000 plus VAT, we will prepare a basic patent application with a narrow scope, file it at the UK Patent Office, and submit the necessary responses to the Patent Office to get the application to grant, if possible, or until it is clear that it cannot be granted. You will be responsible for paying the renewal fees to keep the patent alive, if it is granted.

This service is not suitable for everyone, because an application prepared for this fixed price service will not be suitable for filing abroad, and will not be prepared to maximise protection. This service is ideal for companies seeking quick grant for tax relief under the Patent Box, but who are not intending to enforce their patent or use it in other ways.

Are you patent or trade mark attorneys?

No. We are expert consultants who worked for years as patent examiners at the Patent Office. Patent and trade mark attorneys are specialist lawyers who have qualified to be registered as attorneys. To find a patent attorney, visit www.cipa.org.uk. To find a trade mark attorney, please visit www.citma.org.uk.

Robertson IP exists to make the intellectual property system accessible to people who cannot afford the fees of attorneys, although we have other clients who use our services because we are fast, friendly and efficient. Typically, using the services of an attorney will cost about three times as much as using our services.

We are authorised to act on your behalf in intellectual property related matters under section 274(1) of the Patents Act 1977. This means that we can do most of the same work as a patent or trade mark attorney. We are not authorised to carry out reserved legal activities as defined by the Legal Services Act 2007. Unlike attorneys, we are not regulated by a professional body.

Will you keep my information secure?

Yes. We use commercial information storage systems with dual factor authentication.

Do I need an NDA before I tell you about my invention?

No you don't, but we are happy to provide one anyway. We always treat all of our clients' information in the strictest confidence, and as patent professionals there is an implied confidentiality agreement with us. Nevertheless, we are happy to sign a confidentiality agreement or non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with you for your peace of mind. Just get in touch to arrange it.

Frequently Asked Questions

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