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PATENT LAW

patent  A grant made by a government that confers upon the creator of an invention the right to exclude others from making, using, selling, or importing that invention for a period of time.

Patent provides protection for up to twenty years from the earliest date of filing an application.  Patents typically cost several thousand U.S. dollars to prepare, for example: $4,500 for attorney fees for a simple mechanical patent, plus fees payable to the U.S. Patent Office.  When a patent expires, the invention goes to the public domain. 

     Effective May 15, 2006, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) filing fees for a utility patent are $300; search fee of $500; and $200 examination fee.  The issue fee for a utility patent is $1,400.  Patent maintenance fees are $900 at 3.5 years after issue, $2,300 at 7.5 years and $3,800 at 11.5 years.  A small entity inventor receives a reduced fee equal to one-half of many USPTO fees.

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