What will it cost?

Obtaining patents can be expensive; the costs are usually of the order of several thousand pounds.

It is not possible to estimate in advance exactly how much a particular patent application will cost through to grant. The total cost will depend on the nature and complexity of the invention and the difficulty of prosecution.

We will not normally incur substantial expenditure in relation to a patent application without first seeking instructions. It is our practice to send reminders in good time before any deadline, and it is easier to keep costs down if we receive prompt instructions well in advance, without the need for reminders. Some deadlines cannot be extended, while others can be extended only on payment of very substantial extension fees which can add considerably to the total cost of an application.