How much does it cost to obtain and manage a patent and who incurs the cost of patenting?
Obtaining and managing patent rights for an invention is very expensive; a U.S. patent can cost $30,000 to $50,000 over its 20 year life. Thus, universities are reluctant to pursue patenting unless cost recovery can be reasonably assured from a licensee. In almost all cases, the UW goes ahead with patenting when a commercial partner has been identified to pay the patenting costs. When there is no commercial partner, UW may choose to incur the costs with the goal of recouping them from licensees as part of a commercialization agreement.
