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You don't need a patent to start selling something that you invented. However, you might be infringing another company or individual's intellectual property rights. Also, if your idea is profitable, somebody else is going to try capitalizing on your decision not to submit an application to the USPTO. Patent rights protect against infringement. Two people can have the same idea. The first to invent and file has the right to profit.
View a complete case study that outlines the 18 steps involved with the patent process.
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Registration Fees
The initial cost of submitting an application to the USPTO consists of three parts: search ($310), examination ($125), and online filing fee ($95). If approved, the initial payment is $870 to issue the patent.
Patents last for 20 years, if renewed. The first period ends in 3.5 years. If you don't renew, the rights will expire. Commercial feasibility during the first few years usually determines whether renewing a patent is practical. It costs $1,400 to obtain a patent that lasts 3.5 years.
The renewal fee in 3.5 years is $565. The second period is in 7.5 years for $1,425. The last renewal is in 11.5 years for $2,365.
The fees assume that you are a private individual or small business. Otherwise, the fees are double. There may be additional fees throughout the process in addition to the primary application and renewal costs.
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