Expert: George H. Morgan, P.E., Patent Agent - 12/23/2010

Question
QUESTION: hello, im from peru, southamerica, and i just want to know how much can cost me to patent a METHOD, im an telecom engineer and i would like to patent some procedures to get some information from the signaling exchanged between the celular phones and the core network.
thank you very much for the information

ANSWER: It can run anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000 is my best guestimate.

If you email me at patagent@evansville.net I can recommend three practitioners you can contact directly & see if they want to take it on. They are very honest people & if they think that getting you a patent is a problem, based on what you have, they will tell you so.

Best wishes on your project.

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

QUESTION: does it exist a model of a format i should fill to make the patent?, i have seen that it always includes very simple drawings and the explanation. if its a method of doing something, it can also be sold to a company?
thank you very much for the information

Answer
The "cook book" on how to prosecute your own patent is the text "Patent It Yourself" by David Pressman, published by Nolo Press of Berkeley, California.

Proper preparation of a patent application is not as easy as you describe.

It is very difficult to sell intellectual property to any company, unless it is protected. In your specific case, it would probably have to be an issued patent with good claims giving good protection.

You would need a U.S. address for dealing with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Usually, that means using a registered practitioner.

Fraudulent invention promotion companies are very active in the U.S., so avoid any dealings except with registered practitioners, i.e. Patent Agents or Patent Attorneys, directly.

I hope that helps.

Best wishes on your project.

George H. Morgan
Professional Engineer
Patent Agent
web site: http://www.evansville.net/biz/patagent