Where is it cheapest to file patent application?

Budget and the timelines are the two concerns which every Inventor has in his/her mind while applying for patent rights grant in a particular jurisdiction. These two aspects are questioned by almost every inventor globally. How much is the cost? How much time the patent can be granted? Can there be alternative way for a low cost filing?

Professional fees of the Patent Attorneys or Agents can of course vary from country to country, and depends upon firm size of the Attorney or Agent. I want to highlight here more on the official fees of filing of the patents in different jurisdictions. Few of the jurisdictions which are mostly preferred worldwide- USPTO, European, United Kingdom involve separate fees for Search apart from filing and examination. Almost all the jurisdictions globally have much higher official fees, e.g. USPTO- approximately 1000 USD for non-provisional application, etc. On Timelines front, every jurisdiction takes at least one year to grant the patent rights if all the legal requirements are met.

However, INDIA is the only country where it is cheapest officially and professionally to file the patent application. Following are the salient points for how patent filing in India is cheap, fast to get grant, and commercially beneficial.

• Filing Fees is just 21 USD for individuals, start ups, and small entities.
• No separate search fees
• The application can be early published and examined expeditiously with a nominal fees extra and certain easy terms and conditions.
• If no objections are there or all the objections are overcome or all the requirements are met, the application can be granted patent rights within 7-8 months.
• Number of Patent applications filed and examined in India has been increased extensively in last 2-3 years.
• Last but not least, India is a land of diverse cultures, mindsets, and tastes, hence diverse markets. Therefore, good scope for Inventors to launch their products in the Indian markets.

Though it depends upon the inventor where to seek protection of his product, however can consider India also one of the jurisdiction to file patent application due to low cost and improved efficiency and timelines in getting the patents granted therein.