HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO PATENT AN IDEA?
The Utility Model. The false adrenaline of inventors.
Al menos el 80% de nuestros clientes, llegan a Let’s Prototype creyendo tener una “mini-patente, pre-patente, antecedente de patente, patente express”, entre otros términos creativos, con los que les han “convencido” para contratar la protección de su invento a través de un Utility Model.
You probably hadn’t even finished telling your idea, when arguments started raining in to develop a utility model instead of a patent. Of course! If it’s cheaper and “supposedly” protects you like a patent, you likely didn’t wait long, either, to accept a utility model as an alternative.
Can you really tell the differences between a Utility Model and a patent? (Next post in our Tips for Inventors section).
Do we understand the motives for dismissing a patent as an alternative?
Let’s start off with three realities:
- Most of the ideas we have are not patentable. This does not mean that you do not have a business opportunity. But it’s easier to convince ourselves about the virtues of “pre-patents,” the term by which the utility model is still popularly known.
- Solicitar una patent cuesta mucho más caro que un Utility Model. Está claro, proponer la Patente a la mayoría de inventores, representaría la desaparición de al menos el 30% de los proveedores de estos servicios. (Siendo muy prudente)
- Taking 2020 as a point of reference, 69% of the utility models applied for were granted. In the case of patents, only 25% were approved. Why complicate your life? The shortcut is… utility models for all.
Of course, we won’t just stick to our experience in light of such troublesome conclusions.
Upon checking the technical definitions of utility model and patent, we find that both methods pursue a common objective “…promoting innovation and protecting inventors’ rights.” However, in the case of a utility model, it is defined as, “… The utility model protects inventions of a lower inventive rank than those protected by patents, consisting, for example, of giving an object a configuration or structure from which some utility or practical advantage might be derived.” Thus, a utility model is not a pre-patent.
Calculate the Value of Your Patent
Are you ready to find out the estimated value of your Patent or Utility Model?
According to the informative articles of the Oficina Española de Patentes y Marcas, or Spanish Office of Patents and Trademarks, in the case of utility models, the administrative fees cost €101.38, while, in the case of patents, it is around €1,200. But the outsized difference between rates is not representative. The difference between the two is even greater when we add the fees of those professionals who assist us with both processes. So, yes, based on our experience, we work with clients whose application processes represent investments greater than €60,000, while, in the case of clients with utility models, initial investments rarely exceed €2,900.
Let’s use common sense:
How many of the 3,419 inventors who applied for and paid utility model applications in 2020 would have filed a patent application?
By how much would the sales volume of agents dedicated to the sector be reduced?
If you answer these questions using common sense, you surely would not be surprised by the irrefutable shift in trend which we have undergone, with little transparency, during the last five years.
If you have found this post useful, write us at erick.remedios@letsprototype.comso we can forward you the next “Tip for Inventors” titled “Technical differences between a utility model and a patent.” You may also schedule a direct call with our team of experts: SCHEDULE A CALL NOW..
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Business Director - Inventors' Advisor at Let´s Prototype
Erick Remedios has been linked to entrepreneurship and the launch of innovative projects and inventions for over a decade. His start in the entrepreneurship sector began as the Project Management Director at the network of Private Investors, Business In Fact, S.A., a club of private investors specialized in high-risk investments, which he ended up managing as General Director for at least 5 years.
As the director of the Private Investors network specialized in innovative projects in the startup phase, Erick Remedios participated in more than 40 investment operations, with his main functions being: advising entrepreneurs and inventors, as well as private investors interested in investing in such projects.
Erick Remedios has been one of the influential figures in the development of the ecosystem of entrepreneurs and private investors in Spain. Since 2012, he has participated in numerous private investment forums, has advised entrepreneurial projects as a member of their Boards of Directors, and has served as a lecturer in numerous Public and private Universities, specialized public centers in entrepreneurship, and internationally leading business schools, such as It Aérea Business School, where he leads the management of the Business Model Design Module for entrepreneurs, mostly Aerospace Engineering graduates.
Specialized Centers in Entrepreneurship and the Launch of Innovative Projects where Erick Remedios has participated:
- Direction of the Program - Sanse Emprende from the City Council of San Sebastián de los Reyes, Madrid.
- Direction of the Espoban Program – Diputación de Córdoba and European Center for Business Innovation. Training of entrepreneurs and inventors and preparing them to attract capital through private investors.
- Speaker on the subject of launching innovative projects at Universities such as: Pablo Olavide, University of Seville, University of Málaga, University of Cádiz, University of Huelva, University of Almería, University of Jaen, University of Granada.
- Direction of the Entrepreneurship Module – IT Aérea Business School.
- ENyD Business School: Professor and lecturer in the area of Entrepreneurship and Private Investment.
- Avanza Castellón - Mentor of entrepreneurs and inventors in the program of the Diputación de Castellón.
- Ávila Emprende – Program of the City Council of Ávila. Mentor of entrepreneurs in sales processes and product development.
- Aula UGR- Professor of entrepreneurship and management of launching innovative projects in programs aimed at training teachers from the University of Granada.
- Master Up - Professor of entrepreneurship and investment management in the Official Master's for entrepreneurs from the University of Cadiz.
At the same time, numerous companies have signed Erick Remedios as an advisor and member of their Board of Directors, companies in which Mr. Remedios has also acted as the representative of the private investors who have placed their trust and economic resources, including:
- Tu Fabrica de Eventos
- Baby Radio
- Graffos
- Neurobia Research
- HitsBook
- Bit Credit
- Glelemo
Currently, Mr. Remedios is leading the international expansion of Let´s Prototype in the United States, while also advising inventors on startup processes for projects related to innovative Hardware or Software elements, both in terms of product design, a specialty of Let´s Prototype, and in terms of designing strategies for selling inventions and patents.
Interviews with Mr. Remedios and publications authored by him in Media:
- School of Business and Management: [Link](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ch3nRTFvxhw)
- Diputación de Córdoba. Training for Investors: [Link](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj2fvxkD-zI)
- Spanish Television - Program Emprende: [Link](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZRi98CE20M)
- TV2 - Spanish Television: [Link](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ms22bxyllKc)
- University of Cadiz: Article for Inventors: [Link](https://emprendedores.uca.es/lean-prototyping-el-puente-entre-el-concepto-el-prototipo-y-las-patentes/)
- University of Granada: Article for Inventors: [Link](https://ugremprendedora.ugr.es/6-tips-para-convertir-tu-idea-o-concepto-en-prototipo-lean-prototyping/)
Latest posts by Erick Remedios (see all)
- Propiedades y tipos de materiales para desarrollar productos. - November 25, 2024
- Plan de empresa. Tipos y estructura. - November 24, 2024
- Ventajas competitivas de los produtos innovadores - November 15, 2024
