The following principles are non-negotiable with this law firm. We have to work this way, its the only way we can survive.
1) we work via e-mail, text, and cloud. We usually need inventors to make a video of the invention, and store that video in the cloud. We do not and can not do patent processing via phone calls. Although phone calls are sometimes necessary, in a patent context most often they are not helpful. The exchange of information in the patent process cannot be done over the phone. There are too many documents, URLs, video-data, digital photos, drawings, art, and visual-only features that are a necessary part of the patent process.
2) If you are a person who likes to talk on the phone, if this is your main form of communication, we are likely not the right law firm for you. We do not work via phone calls. Although phone calls are sometimes necessary, most often they are not helpful. We can give you a list of patent service providers in your area. Believe us there are a ton of patent service providers in your area, doesn't matter the geography they will reach you via Internet, and they are hurting for business, and they will have no problem taking your money. If you want someone to listen to you on the phone, there are law firms that will take your money. And $bill $you $for $every $minute.
3) All payments are received and non-refundable, prior to any work beginning.
4) All incoming clients, new to the patent/trademark process, need to be aware that the patent process is DIFFICULT, TIME-CONSUMING, and can get EXPENSIVE. See 9) below, "patents are a Rich person's game". This law firm does not have control over this. We ask that every new inventor, thinking about working with us, watch this playList first. Make sure you are willing to give us the information we need to best help you! Otherwise we can't help you! This playList is titled "What your patent attorney needs from you: how to best structure your invention-disclosures". Hopefully that Title is self-explanatory. Please watch this PlayList before you Hire Us!
We have worked with any number of inventors who just could not seem to understand a) the information we need, and must have, in order to best help the inventor; b) information that is of absolutely no help to the patent process; and c) how to tell the difference.
5) Make sure you are an informed client. Before you hire anyone, make sure you are getting a patent for the right reasons. Make sure you truly understand what a patent is, and isn't. Make sure you truly understand a patent Can Do, and Cannot Do, for you. This is an area that is incredibly misunderstood even by sophisticated and intelligent inventors.
We have a playList dedicated to this, not surprisingly titled "ToughLove: giving Bad News to Inventors". Please watch this before you Hire Us!
6) If you are a person who likes to send paper checks via postal mail, we are probably not the right law firm for you. Payments should be made electronically. We take all credit cards, via either Square, Stripe, PayPal. We can also arrange for ACH transfers, as well as SWIFT. If you only want to pay via paper check and postal mail, we can give you a list of patent service providers in your area.
7) We want every inventor to be sufficiently funded to be able to fully pursue their invention. At this law firm we stress an important principle, the 40:2:1 principle.
That is, for any specific invention, a) plan on spending at least $40K, b) plan on waiting at least 2 years before any of your money starts coming back, and be aware c) there is about a 1% chance of this (profitability) happening. We are quite skilled at increasing your chances of landing in that 1%. But still, having been doing this for >23 years, having worked with literally thousands of individual inventors, these are the odds we see, based on years and years of empirical data.
Please Be Aware of this. We do not blow sunshine up orifices here. We strive tell the accurate truth. Including using Inventor-ToughLove where necessary.
That is not to suggest to not pursue your invention. Instead, it is a suggestion to be informed, be realistic, and be prepared for the magnitude of the task in front of you.
CHRONIC UNDERFUNDING
7) The vast majority of our inventors suffer from severe under-funding, and are often dismissive of the 40:2:1 principle, usually due to mis-placed optimism not based on a honest assessment. These inventors typically won't even consider $investors, feeling they won't need it, e.g. "this invention will sell itself", and/or sometimes suggesting "I don't want to have a boss". Again, this is a mistake, and we try to put our clients in a position where they are palatable and of-interest to a potential investor or grant-application or biz-plan competition. If that is not what you want, if you always want to self-fund, and don't trust investors, fine, just let us know. And if you run out of money, the patents will be "let go" and abandoned for lacking of responding to the Federal Governments' continual requests for additional money.
8) Our desired, optimal customer is what we call a "1099-inventor". This law firm wants clients that quickly request our EIN, track and calculate all expenses paid to us, and give us a 1099 every year by Jan 31. That is, our law firm strives to work with inventors that a) have an LLC, where b) that LLC has a business (non-personal) bank account, c) the LLC has a business (non-personal) credit card, where d) we are paid using that business (non-personal) credit card. If we are being paid with personal funds, that is usually a bad sign, likely indicating that the inventor is under-funded and cannot afford to be playing in this sand-box.
Every year since 2013 we have received more and more 1099s. This is a better way to do business. We prefer not to be paid from personal funds, if this can be avoided. Some times it can't.
PATENTS ARE A RICH PERSON'S GAME
9) Our desired, optimal customer is someone that is aware that patents cost significant money, and that the patent process is a slow-bleeding process somewhat comparable to being on a toll-road of uncertain length. Getting a patent all the way to Issuance usually costs at least $7000 and often $9000, plus usually takes at least 2.5 years.
