New customers benefit from a free initial consultation for determining the needs and the adapted services.
Below are listed some selected services along with typical cost ranges. Unless otherwise agreed, a cost ceiling adapted to the order will be used from these cost ranges. Only the actual effort will be charged and only after consultation with the client can the cost ceiling be increased.
Of course, services adapted to further needs are available.
Novelty search
typical cost range: CHF 800-1’500
(please note the cost-effective offer of an assisted patent search of the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property http://www.ige.ch)
A typical novelty search involves carfully analyzing the invention and searching the relevant patent literature (if desired, the search can be extended to non-patent literature as well). Due to the limited amount of time, a novelty search is never exhaustive, but allows a first assessment of the novelty of the invention. Information from the inventor is very valuable, as he often has a precise knowledge of the state of the art and the expected documents of the patent literature.
Determining third-party intellectual property rights
typical cost range: CHF 400-2’000
A determination of third-party intellectual property rights can have very different objectives and may be directed to the determination of patent applications with new interesting solutions (new business fields) or to the determination of disturbing property rights (“Freedom to operate”). Depending on the objective, a regular repetition may make sense. It should be noted that intellectual property rights applications are normally only published 18 months after the filing date.
Procedure up to grant of intellectual property rights
Preparation of a patent application
typical cost range: CHF 4’000-6’000
A typical patent application comprises 15-20 pages description, 10-15 claims, a summary and 2-4 figures. A detailed invention disclosure, if applicable with figures and information on the advantages, is very helpful. You will receive the patent application in a form suitable for filing it on your own.
Filing a Swiss patent application
typical cost range: CHF 600-700
plus optional offical search CHF 700-1’600
A typical filing of a Swiss patent application involves filing the patent application and forms with the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property and paying the required fees. You will be informed well in advance of the possibility of a recommended but optional official search and of the possibility of the geographical extension into other states/regions.
Of course, instead of a Swiss patent application, a European patent application, an international application (PCT), a US application, etc. can be filed (costs by arrangement).
Analysis of an official search report
typical cost range: CHF 600-1’500
A typical official search report cites 4-10 relevant documents. The analysis identifies, if possible, the differences between the subject matter claimed in the application and the cited documents. In many cases, such differences can be identified, which, together with the applicant, should be examined to see whether these differences result in an interesting scope of protection.
Geographical extension of a Swiss patent application into other states/regions
typical cost range:
CHF 4’000-5’000 for an international application (PCT)
CHF 2’000-8’000 per state/region (EP, US, CN, JP, etc.)
The geographical extension of a Swiss patent application into other states/regions can be made either indirectly via an international application (PCT), or directly through national/regional patent applications (Europe, USA, China, Japan, etc.). At the end of the international phase (30 months from the filing date of the Swiss patent application), the international application can enter the national phase in national/regional patent applications. The decision and the costs for the geographical extension into other states/regions (Europe, USA, China, Japan, etc.) can thus be postponed by the international application (PCT).
Examination procedure, renewal fees
typical cost range:
for examination procedures CHF 2’000-15’000 per state/region
for renewal fees CHF 500-2000 per state/region
A typical official examination procedure lasts 3-6 years until a possible grant of a patent. The examination procedure requires the analysis and the answering of examination reports and the payment of grant fees. You will be reminded in good time of the payment of official renewal fees to maintain the patent application or the patent.
Proceedings with regard to third-party property rights
typical cost range: depends on the order
The proceedings with regard to third-party property rights can involve very different measures, such as the assessment of the legal status, the interpretation of the scope of protection, proceedings regarding negotiations for licensing, proceedings as regards opposition or invalidity procedures, etc.
Alleged infringement of an intellectual property right
typical cost range: depending on the order
The proceedings for an alleged infringement of an intellectual property right from the perspective of the proprietor or from the perspective of the alleged infringer can involve very different measures, such as the assessment of the legal status, the interpretation of the scope of protection, proceedings regarding negotiations for a friendly settlement, proceedings in view of a legal procedure, etc.