Expert: George H. Morgan, P.E., Patent Agent - 4/9/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hello, I am wondering if Patent Assistance Worldwide is a reputable company. I researched them and they have some affiliates but I can't find much more about them. Plus, they are not on the list of company complaints that are on the patent government site. Thank you for your help.

ANSWER: No!

These weasels constantly come up with new names. My web site, http://www.evansville.net/biz/patagent has a link to the Ron Riley Scam Alert site. The link is on my Inventors Resources page. You will find at that site, general info on how scams operate, and you will probably find at least some of the subsidiary companies on it.

Don't send them any money! Also, beware of any "inventors help or promotion" organization that has a general broad name, as opposed to an individual registered as an agent or attorney with the U.S. Patent Office as a patent practitioner. Especially beware of such firms advertising on this site, even on my profile page.  I have pointed that out to Allexperts but they claim they have no control over who advertises with them, they blame Google.

Best wishes on your project.

George H. Morgan
Professional Engineer
Patent Agent


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Who do you suggest I use to get my idea patented? I need to be able to sell this idea and patent assistance is saying I only pay them $900-$1800 for the patent attorney, the R&D and the engineers to build a prototype. What do you suggest?

Answer
I suggest  you get a copy of "Patent It Yourself" by David Pressman, published by Nolo Press of Berkely, California. It should be in your local free public library. I suggest perusing it a couple of times to get a handle on what you are getting into.

For a patent practitioner, you can go to the government patent office site, uspto.gov & check out their list of patent practioners & find one near you.  I also do patents. My email is patagent@evansville.net  .

They are at about 10% or less than the cost to do it legitimately, so something just doesn't look right.

If all you have is an idea, and it takes engineering to reduce it to practise, you are a long way away from a sale.

If it was at the point where you had drawings identifying what you are trying to do, if I did the work, by the time you had your patent in hand, two and a half years from starting, the total patent cost, including formal patent drawings, government fees, postage, my fees (including the preparation of the applications..provisional and formal and the office action responses, as required),  your total investment would be in the order of $7,000. So, I would be very careful about doing business with the outfit you mentioned, as they won't be in business very long. The federal filing fees alone include $105 for the provisional, $515 for the formal, and around $670 or so for the award fee.

Hope that helps.

Best wishes on  your project.

George H. Morgan