What are the cost implications of the two routes – national UK and European?
There are normally two factors to consider: the overall cost and the way in which the components of the overall cost are spread out during the patenting process. It is generally impossible to predict the likely range for overall costs with any accuracy until at least the Search Report is received (giving an indication of whether close prior art exists), and even then there can be later surprises at examination or if a third party opposes grant (in the case of a European patent). Initially a budget of perhaps £5000 (US $7200)* should be allowed to cover the costs of prosecuting a relatively straightforward national patent application to grant in the UK, with those costs being spread over about 4 years (see Table below). As far as a European application is concerned, a budget of perhaps £8500 (US $13000) should be allowed to take the application through to grant, to which around £1600 (US $2400) would be added per additional country designated in the European application; again, this wou
