What is a preliminary patentability search?
It is recommended to search prior patents before applying to discover if the particular invention or one similar to it has already been patented. An inventor can conduct a search himself or employ a professional search firm to conduct the search. Professional search firms generally charge in the range of $700 – $1200 to conduct a search of the US Patent Office records and provide the inventor with the results. More extensive searches can be commissioned that include non-patent publications and foreign patent databases at an additional cost. The fee for an opinion of patentability by a patent attorney will vary based on the technology and the number of references located by the searcher. Generally, a written opinion of patentability ranges between $1000-$1500. After conducting the search, if the information revealed in the search suggests that your invention is unpatentable, then you may wish to reconsider filing an application in view of the expense associated with the preparation and
