Typical Costs for a Patent Application Elsewhere
The cost of filing applications overseas varies considerably from country to country. One significant factor is that the application must be filed in the local language – where this is not English the specification must be translated. I recommend that this is carried out by a local patent agent, to ensure that the language is technically and legally correct. I have worked with patent agents in many different countries for a number of years. The cost of the translation depends on the length of the specification, which in turn will depend upon the nature of the invention.
Ball park figures are as follows:-
| China | £2500 |
| Japan | £3500 |
| Mexico | £2500 |
| Canada | £1500 |
| Australia | £1500 |
| New Zealand | £1000 |
International Applications
| PCT application | £3000 - £6000 |
| IPED | £2500 - £3500 |
| National Phase | Varies according to the country EP £3500 - 4500 US £2500 UK £1000 |
When filing an overseas patent application, typically this will be filed in conjunction with a British application or a European application. In this case the preparation of the specification will have been carried out for that application and a small amount of time only will be required for amending the overseas application in accordance with the practice there. However, if no other equivalent applications are being filed, the considerably time may be required in drafting the specification. This will clearly increase the costs.
A PCT application is usually filed following the filing of an informal British Patent Application. However, depending upon the developments to the invention between the time of filing of the UK application and the PCT considerable work may be required to amend the description and prepare the claims and abstract. Formal drawings prepared by a draftsman may also be required. However, if minimal developments have been made to the invention since the original filing, then a shorter period of time will be required to finalise the description and draft the claims and abstract.
The IPED (International Preliminary Examination Demand) is optional. However, if the search report has not been favourable, then it may be advantageous to prepare amended claims and to file the IPED. This will provide an opportunity for the examiner to assess the new claims and issue a (hopefully) favourable IPER (international preliminary examination report).