Topics


Basis of Cost Calculations


Reporting


Licensing and Network Use



Basis of Cost Calculations


What are the cost estimates based on?
The estimates are based on Minimum Fee schedules from a number of associates in each country. An average figure is calculated for each category of fees in these schedules. This average is not the strict mean or mathematical average. Instead, it is halfway between this strict average and the highest value, which means that estimates tend to be on the high side of average.


What types of costs are included/excluded?
Official and Associate fees are included. The Official fees are the fees charged by the Patent Office in the country. These fees are not averages; they are the actual fees charged. The associate fees are fees charged by the Associate in a country for filing and prosecuting the application in his or her country.


Fees and costs associated with the In-House legal department, or the “Parent country” counsel paid to supervise the prosecution of the applications, are not included.


How many associates’ fee schedules are used to arrive at the figures used in the database?
For most countries, at least five independent fee schedules are used.


Can I obtain the names of the associates whose schedules are used to create these figures?
Unfortunately, for reasons of confidentiality, we cannot provide you the names of the associates whose fee schedules are used.


How many countries are included in the system?
All the major countries of the world are included in the system. Currently, 149 countries are available.


The translation costs you show are too low/high. How do I change those costs?
For any language, the user may specify a per-page translation cost. This figure then replaces information provided by the database.


How often do you update the database of worldwide costs?
The cost database is updated monthly, with new cost “fee rules”, and new currency exchange rates. Any program changes are also included in the monthly update.


Do I have to re-calculate my entire portfolio each time the cost database is updated?
Yes, the portfolio cost projections need to be re-calculated. The program has been optimized to perform this process rapidly.


Can I change the currency exchange rates myself?
Yes, the exchange rates may be set by the user in between updates. Exchange rates may also be updated from our web site on a daily basis.


Can I keep the actual historic costs I incurred in the database?
No, the program is designed to analyze future costs only.


How do you estimate the dates allocated to future events in the prosecution of the patent application?
The average number of years to patent examination and granting in each country is used to produce a projection of when costs will be incurred. These averages are based on surveys of Foreign Associates.


The annuities are then also allocated to the appropriate years, based on whether annuities begin from filing or grant date.


Do you include costs for Office actions that may occur?
The numbers used in the estimate for the Prosecution stage are based on surveys of Foreign Associates. They typically do not appear on the fee schedules sent out by associates. We survey Foreign Associates and ask how many Office Actions are to be expected in a straightforward case. This is the number to be expected in addition to filing, examination, publication and granting. We then calculate an average number of Office Actions for each country.


I pay annuities through an annuity payment service. Can I specify these fees?
Yes, the user-entered fees will be used in place of the system averages.



Reporting


Can I see the cost and country details for a particular patent in the portfolio?
Yes, the program provides views of the processing for each patent family. There is a graphical display of stages (Filing, Examination, etc) shown with dates of occurrence for each country within the patent family.


Details of the amounts for each country for each stage may be viewed and printed.


How many groups can I use to classify the patent families?
Any number of groups


Can I add a grouping at any time, and generate reports based on that grouping?
Yes, a new grouping may be devised; each patent allocated to the members of the grouping; and a new analysis run, without re-calculating the portfolio costs and times.


What time periods are available to report by?
Yearly, quarterly and monthly time periods may be specified.


Can I see reports for the costs incurred in the past as well as estimates for the future?
No. Estimates are for costs expected in the future.



Licensing and Network Use


How is the software licensed?
The software is licensed for periods of one-year increments, and on a “number of patent filings” basis. For example, the least expensive license is for the processing of 500 patent filings. This means the data for up to 500 patent filings may be entered and maintained in the single licensed database. Twelve monthly updates to the software and the data will be provided. The software will cease to operate after one year, unless the license is renewed


Is there an extra cost for additional users?
No. The license is by number of patent filings in the single database licensed. The software and database may be installed on a server, and accessed by any number of users. However, the database may not be installed on more than one computer.


Can the software be used on a network?
Yes. The software and database may be installed on a server, and accessed by any number of users. However, the database may not be installed on more than one computer/server.





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