How much does a UK Patent cost

A UK patent costs around £350 if you produce and file the application yourself, or between £2,000 and £6,000 if you hire a patent attorney (depending on the complexity of the invention).

The costs to apply for a Patent are spread over a period of time.

Initial cost - the drafting and filing of the application.
12 months later - the Preliminary Search cost.
12 months later - the Substantive Examination.

If you draft and file the application yourself, the costs are restricted to the official Patent Office fees - which are slightly different when paper filing compared to online.

If you employ a Patent Attorney / Agency, every action they undertake on your project, including discussing matters with you and the Patent Office will attract a cost - unless you've agreed to work together on a fixed fee arrangement - which is how we operate.

Is a patent worth the cost ?

The answer is YES and NO. It all depends on a number of factors...

The robustness and technical richness of the IP.
The foundations on which the IP is based, i.e. the credibility/viability/feasibility of the project.
You, your objective and resources.
The good will of the competition.

A poorly drafted patent, lacking technical depth and easily circumvented, holds little value. In contrast, a well-crafted, technically robust patent that effectively prevents others from working around the invention can become a valuable asset due to the competitive advantage it offers.

Patents are a valuable tool but only if used wisely and in conjunction with a broader strategy for bringing the invention to market.

Why use a patent attorney ?

There is no law that dictates you have to use a patent agent / attorney to draft, file and secure new technological rights with the Patent Office. Anyone can do it !

However just because you can, doesn't mean you should. Unless you have the necessary experience and training, you will simply not have the expertise to :

Assess prior art (existing patents or technologies) and whether your invention is truly novel.
Understand what can and cannot be done to circumnavigate around the prior art.
Compile the application that robustly protects the technology that prevents others from circumnavigating around the patent and gaining an advantage.
Respond and overcome any objections the Patent Office raises.

Patent law and drafting a strong application are highly specialised skills.

What if you can’t afford a patent attorney ?

If hiring an attorney isn't feasible, you need to consider whether your business has the resources for the other steps in commercialising an invention. A patent is only a part of the process. Without a budget for product development, testing, and marketing, a patent alone will not be enough to ensure success.