If you are an inventor or someone who constantly creates stuff, you are going to want to protect your creations and work. This can literally add up to thousands of dollars on attorneys. The good news is that there are ways in which you can save a ton of money when working with attorneys. In this article, we will be going over how to get a patent and how to save money when doing so.
1. Remember That Your Attorney Works For You.
Pretty much like any other person that you hire for a job, you need to be sure to set exact boundaries and talk about your specific expectations before you begin working together. It is very important that you get a bid for the job that you actually want to get done because the expenses of the particular task can add up very quickly. As with anyone that you are going to be working with closely for a long time, you will want to be sure that you do your due diligence when you are choosing the attorney to hire for the job.
2. Use Referrals To Find One.
There is no better endorsement you can get than a personal one from someone you already know and trust. With that being said, there are a few strategies that you can utilize in order to find the right patent attorney for you and your situation. You might want to read up on the other kinds of patents that are inside of the specific product category that you are working with and contact the authors of them. By getting an attorney that is experienced in your specific subset, you will gain a significant advantage because they will be able to really provide adequate amounts of experience to you. This is especially important if you are dealing with a highly complex technology such as medical technology. While this is not a 100% necessity, it is something that you should consider to get the best help possible. If your idea is simple, you should not have a problem finding an experienced patent attorney to help get the job done.
3. Understand The Pros and Cons Of Working With A Large Firm Versus An Independent Attorney.
Another thing that you will want to do is understand the pros and cons of working with a big firm versus someone operating alone. A lot of large firms are going to effectively offer you full service. This means that they will be able to cover a wide range of patents and intellectual property such as copyrights, trademarks, licensing, and also litigation. They also tend to have be the most experienced attorneys available. If you ever have to go to court during your process, being represented by a large firm is likely going to give you a significant advantage. However, going with a large firm is also going to be significantly more expensive. Whereas, an independent attorney is going to be much more affordable, and they will end up working directly with you and provide you much more individual attention. You must consider these pros and cons when making your final hiring decision.