The theory behind this blog is simple: when fees for patent applications are raised, companies will respond by filing fewer, higher-quality patent applications. Of course, that would mean that we should be able to show a negative relationship between filing fees and patent applications filed (stay tuned for the actual data). However, filing fees have been and remain so low (currently $1,000) that they are below the demand curve so the impact of raising the fees will only be felt if the fees are increased on a massive scale, say to $50,000 per application.
Consider this, the AIPLA, in its annual economic survey states that the median charges for US Utility Patents of minimal complexity is $6,500, relative complexity is $8,600 to $12,000 depending on the field of invention (should a minimally complex case be filed at all?). So, the last thing a company considers in filing a patent application is the cost of the filing fees. They should be much more interested in squeezing the outside counsel bills --- “Don’t do a prior art search, that will cost more than the filing fee.” This is a small price to pay to file a case that may someday be worth millions in reduced license fees or litigation expense, no wonder the default position is to file every application possible.
What might happen to the decision process if the fee was raised to $50,000:
Prior art may be found and considered to help define the scope of the invention;
In-house IP counsel may be called upon to make tough choices between filing cases or not (the most important cases would get filed);
Attorneys fees will go from being the largest to the smallest portion of the cost of the application (this may allow the flat fees to rise);
And, most importantly, fewer cases will be filed permitting the USPTO to actually do its job (more about this later).
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