Startup Package. Menu of Flat Fees. Basic Legal Issues a Start-up Needs to Consider. Rimon Law Group, Inc. A Professional Corporation

Transcription

1 Startup Package Menu of Flat Fees Basic Legal Issues a Start-up Needs to Consider Rimon Law Group, Inc. A Professional Corporation 220 Sansome Street Suite 310 San Francisco, CA Main Direct

2 Startup Package Menu of Flat Fees For full description of packages and fees, please view the appropriate section. Entity Formation Page 2 Full organizational package $1,200 plus state fees Operating Agreement or Bylaws $900 Employment Agreements Page 6 Basic employment agreement: $450 Nondisclosure agreement: $450 Non-competition agreement: $425 Package of all three agreements $1,250 Employee Incentive Agreements Page 8 Stock Option Plan and Agreement $2400 Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement $875 Trademarks Page 11 Full Trademark Package $3,075 and above Patents Page 15 Preliminary, knock out search $1,500-2,500 Patentability search & due diligence $5,000 per independent invention Patent preparation & Filing $6,000-15,000 plus gov t fees (fees will depend on size & complexity)

3 A Primer on Entity Formation Why form a limited liability entity (Corporation or LLC)? A limited liability entity (a corporation or an LLC) provides both financial benefits and protection from liability. Among the financial benefits is the ability to deduct more business expenses from annual revenue when calculating taxable income than would be possible without an entity. Forming a limited liability entity also helps protect your personal assets in the event of a lawsuit or from debtors in a situation where your business s liabilities exceed its assets. This means that as the owner of limited liability entity, your personal assets will not be placed at risk because of the actions of your company, provided you maintain the company's assets and activities separate from your personal ones This requires the corporation or LLC to: 1) make sure the company is adequately capitalized (it has the money necessary to cover the reasonably predictable legal and business responsibilities of the business); 2) that the company keeps clean accounting books and has accounts that are separate from the personal accounts of its owners or employees; and 3) that all legal documents are adequately maintained and the company complies with corporate governance laws. Forming a corporation or LLC also usually makes it easier for a business to borrow money and to sell all or parts of the business in the future. It is important to note that the longer a business operates without a legal entity, the more complicated and expensive it becomes to transform it into one. For this reason it is very important to form a legal entity as soon as feasible. What is the difference between an LLC and a Corporation? A corporation is made up of three groups of people the shareholders, the board of directors and the officers, although the same person can hold multiple positions. The board of directors is formally elected by the shareholders and represents their interests. It is the board of directors that hires the officers of the company, also known as the management. The management s job is to oversee the day-to-day operations of the company. Major decisions, however, require the approval of both the shareholders and the board of directors. A corporate structure is thus a highly organized and rigid structure of governance that can often be quite burdensome. A corporation requires a slew of corporate governance documents that must be frequently updated. It also requires that annual meetings be held for shareholders and the board of directors. LLC stands for limited liability company. Generally it provides the same legal protections from personal liability as a corporation, however it is governed more like a partnership than a corporation. Whereas a corporation s owners are called shareholders, the owners of an LLC are known as members. An LLC does not require a board of directors or even officers and can simply be managed directly by its members, if so desired. It can also be structured more like a 2

4 corporation, with managers that are distinct from its owners. LLCs allow for significantly more flexibility than do corporations. For instance, the owners of an LLC can allocate distributions in whichever way they see fit. Even if the ownership of an LLC is split 60/40, the owners can decide to split the profits 50/50 - something that is not possible in a corporation without a significantly more complicated structure. Should my business be a Corporation or an LLC? If your business only has a few investors and you do not anticipate receiving outside financing in the near future, an LLC is probably best for you because of its flexibility, simplicity, and passthrough taxation (see below). This is especially true if you do not meet the S-corp election requirements (also see below). However, if you want a board of directors that is distinct from the officers and/or shareholders of the company, or if you are looking for institutional investors, then a corporation is probably a better form of entity because of its more organized and established structure of governance. There are also fairly complex differences on how franchise taxes are calculated for S-Corps and LLCs depending on the jurisdiction, revenue, and profit of the company, so you should consult with an attorney and/or accountant to see what fits your specific financial situation. What is pass-through/flow-through taxation? In a pass-through (or flow-through) entity, the entity s income and expenses "pass through" the entity and are treated as the income and expenses of its owners. LLCs and S-Corporations (see below) are pass-through entities. This differs from a C-Corporation (which is the default form of corporation) which is taxed a corporate income tax at the end of the fiscal year in addition to the personal income taxes and dividend taxes that its owners and employees pay. Federal corporate income tax is about 15% to 35% of profits, and most states also have corporate income tax. This means after a C-Corporation has paid its expenses for the year, it will be taxed at least 15%-35% of whatever is left above the amount the company started with that year. If the company is an LLC or an S-Corporation, there is no corporate tax, and indeed the owners can even apply losses of the company against their personal income. What is an S-Corporation and what are its requirements? S-Corporations are corporations that elect to be treated as pass-through entities by the IRS by filing an S-Corp election. In order to qualify for S-Corporation status a corporation needs to satisfy several conditions, including the following: 1) all shareholders must be residents of the United States; 2) the corporation may only have one class of shareholders and may not have more than 75 shareholders; and 3) the company s shareholders must be any of the following: individuals, estates, certain trusts, certain partnerships, tax-exempt charitable organizations, and other S corporations (but only if the other S corporation is the sole shareholder). This means S- Corporations may not be owned by other C-Corporations, LLCs, or foreign residents. If any of the requirements are not met at any time, the corporation automatically loses its S-Corporation status and will be treated as a C-Corporation. 3

5 What are the tax benefits of making an S-Corporation Election? Many small business owners incorporate their businesses not only for legal protection, but also to reduce owners payroll taxes through S-Corp tax election with the IRS. One advantage of an S-Corp over a sole proprietorship, partnership, or disregarded entity is that it gives business owners the ability to reduce their self employment taxes. Any small business owner who has not made an S-Corp election and uses Schedule C for their personal tax return for 2010 is subject to both employer and employee FICA and Medicare payroll taxes at 15.3% up to $106,800, 2.9% Medicare for Schedule C net income greater than $106,800, and California SDI for 1.1% up to 93,316. If the owner of an S-corporation pays himself/herself a reasonable salary, the rest of the net income is not subject to these payroll taxes. Can an LLC get the tax benefits of an S-Corp Election? An LLC can be treated as an S-Corporation for tax purposes if it makes an S-Corporation election as long as the entity meets the IRS criteria to be taxed as an S-Corp, files an S-Corp election and gets approved by the IRS to be taxed as an S-Corporation. Without an S- Corporation election, single member LLCs default to be taxed as sole proprietors and a multimember LLCs defaults to be taxes as partnership since they are considered disregarded entities unable to get the tax benefits of an S-corp election. However, if a single or multiple member LLC agreement meets the IRS criteria to be classified as an S-Corp (see above), and the S-corp election is filed and approved by the IRS, then for tax purposes (not legal purposes), the entity is treated like an S-Corporation. Where should I form my entity? This can be a very complex question. If you are looking to grow the company and get outside investment, then you should probably form an entity in Delaware. If your entity will have real estate holdings Nevada might also be a good option. Otherwise, it might make the most sense to simply form the entity in the state where you will be conducting most of your business. 4

6 Rimon offers the following flat-fee packages: 1. Full organizational package (including Charter, Board Consents, Bylaws/Operating Agreement, etc.): $1,200 plus state fees 2. Operating Agreement or Bylaws: $900 THIS IS ONLY A SIMPLE OUTLINE. WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU SPEAK TO A LAWYER TO LEARN WHAT IS BEST FOR YOU. For a free consultation, or to learn more about our entity formation services, please contact us: info@rimonlaw.com Telephone:

7 A Primer on Employment, Non Disclosure, and Non Competition Agreements Once an employment relationship exists, a company is required to adhere to applicable labor laws, regardless of whether a newly formed company has one employee or more. Three agreements are basic to a company. 1. Employment or Service Agreements. A new company should determine which of its workers are employees and which are independent contractors. The workers status will determine what benefits he or she is owed during employment and at its conclusion. A new company is building its reputation not just for its product, but for its staff and for fairness as an employer as well. To this end, a company should have a written agreement to clarify for its workers and itself a position s expectations, benefits and responsibilities. A written contract delineates scope and hours of work, how the relationship is to continue, and how it is to be terminated. 2. Nondisclosure Agreements. Your company s ideas, methods, organization, and products are entitled to varying degrees of protection. With products and secrets more esoteric and virtual than ever before, it is essential that expectations and responsibilities are set forth in black and white. A nondisclosure agreement serves a dual purpose: it educates the employee or contractor and it protects the company. A clearly written nondisclosure agreement will tell your workers what his or her responsibilities are toward the company and what the law considers to be company property. 3. Non competition Agreements. Can a part-time employee hold another job while working for you? Can he or she work for a direct competitor a year after he involuntarily leaves his employment? Does this change if he owns part of your business? What if the competitor is anywhere in the world instead of in the same country? Different states have different laws regarding the strictures that will be enforced once a worker leaves your company. These laws are affected by the stability of the economy. It is important for your company s future and stability that you take full advantage of whatever protections the applicable law affords. 6

8 Rimon offers the following flat-fee packages. All fees include a client consultation. Additional revisions and work are at the hourly rate: Basic employment agreement: $450 Nondisclosure agreement: $450 Non-competition agreement: $425 Package of all three agreements $1,250 THIS IS ONLY A SIMPLE OUTLINE. WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU SPEAK TO A LAWYER TO LEARN WHAT IS BEST FOR YOU. For a free consultation, or to learn more about our services, please contact us: info@rimonlaw.com Telephone:

9 A Primer on Stock Option Agreements and Restricted Stock Agreements Why have a stock option plan? Startups often prefer to compensate using stock options because it does not require a cash outlay. In addition, employees may prefer the favorable tax treatment associated with stock options. Stock options also often give employees a stake in the long-term success of the company that salaries or bonuses often do not. What is a stock option? A stock option is the right to acquire a certain number of shares of stock for a specific price ( exercise price ). Usually, the employer does not permit an employee to exercise the right to purchase immediately on the date the stock option is issued. Rather, the right to purchase stock typically vests or accrues over a period of time or upon meeting certain company performance goals. This encourages employees to remain with the company for the rest of the vesting period or helps the company meet its goals. Tax consequences of Incentive Stock Options and Nonstatutory Stock Options There are two forms of stock options: incentive stock options ( ISO ) and nonstatutory stock options ( NSO ). ISOs are different from NSOs in that ISOs receive favorable federal tax treatment if the option meets certain requirements of the Internal Revenue Code. When granted, both ISOs and NSOs should have an exercise price that is not less than 100 percent of the fair market value of the underlying stock. Neither ISOs nor NSOs are taxable upon grant to the employee or when the option vests. The difference between them lies in the tax consequences when the option is exercised. When an NSO is exercised, the employee recognizes compensation (ordinary) income in an amount equal to the spread at exercise. An employee does not recognize taxable income on exercise of an ISO. However, the spread at exercise is includible in the employee s federal alternative minimum taxable ( AMT ) income and may give rise to AMT tax liability. If stock acquired upon exercise of an NSO is held for more than one year, any gain realized on the disposition of the stock is taxed at favorable long-term capital gain rates. ISOs must be held for at least two years from the date of grant and at least one year from the date of exercise to qualify for favorable capital gain tax rates. Otherwise, the employee recognizes compensation income that is taxed at ordinary income tax rates. The other difference between ISOs and NSOs is in the benefit to the employer: for NSOs, the employer can take a deduction equal to the amount recognized by the employee upon exercise of 8

10 the NSO. For ISOs, there is no deduction. The different aspects of ISOs and NSOs provide flexibility in tailoring an equity compensation plan to fit a company s needs. What is restricted stock? Instead of issuing stock options, some companies issue restricted stock. Restricted stock refers to stock that is transferred to an employee as compensation for services, subject to a vesting schedule. The employee usually is not required to pay for the stock. If the employee does not remain with the employer until the end of the vesting period, the stock must be returned to the employer. If the employee has paid any amount for the restricted stock but then fails to become vested, the employer usually refunds the purchase price to the employee. A discussion of the tax consequences of restricted stock is beyond the scope of this primer and requires a detailed conversation with a tax attorney. Given the complex legal, accounting and tax issues, a company should seek advice before implementing an equity compensation plan. Rimon offers the following flat-fee packages: 1. Stock Option Plan and Agreement $2400 Initial Client Interview* Stock Option Plan Stock Option Agreement Board of Directors and Shareholders Approvals Spousal Consent Exercise Notice Filing the 25102(o) Notice with the Commissioner of Corporations * Additional revisions at hourly rate ** Filing fee is calculated by the value of the shares in the Plan. The filing fee is additional. 2. Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement $875 Initial Client Interview* First Draft of Stock Purchase Agreement Stock Powers and Assignment Exercise Notice Spousal Consent 83(b) Election Information Filing the Exemption with the Commissioner of Corporation** * Additional revisions at hourly rate ** Filing fee is additional ($25-$300) 9

11 THIS IS ONLY A SIMPLE OUTLINE. WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU SPEAK TO A LAWYER TO LEARN WHAT IS BEST FOR YOU. For a free consultation, or to learn more about our option agreement services, please contact us: info@rimonlaw.com Telephone:

12 A Primer on Trademarks Introduction Every business owns trademarks, which are used to identify and distinguish a business, product, and/or service in the marketplace. Trademarks may be comprised of words, names, symbols, or devices or any combination thereof. Trademarks often are a business s most valuable asset. For example, the Coca Cola brand alone was valued at more than $67 billion dollars in 2009! Clearing a name for registration with the Secretary of State s office is not the same as conducting a trademark search and the mere act of corporate formation does not confer any trademark rights. The trademark search and registration (aka trademark prosecution) process can be long (typically 1.5 to 2 years) and complicated. Trademark Basics There are four basic facts to keep in mind when dealing with trademarks: 1. U.S. trademark rights are governed by a system of priority or superiority -- the first person /entity to use a mark in interstate commerce can prevent all others from using an identical or similar mark for identical or similar services. 2. Common-law trademark rights (those not associated with any state or federal trademark registration) are geographic in scope and limited to the locations in which the mark has been used. Common law trademark rights are more difficult, and therefore more costly, to prove than rights associated with a state or federal trademark registration. 3. U.S. trademark rights also may be obtained by filing an Intent to Use ( ITU ) federal trademark registration application, though the mere filing of an ITU application does not convey any trademark rights; registration must be obtained for trademark rights to accrue. 4. Trademark infringement occurs when it is likely that consumers would be confused regarding the source or origin of a product or service. Infringement also exists when consumers would perceive an association between products, or a sponsorship between companies, that does not really exist. This is what trademark professionals refer to as a likelihood of confusion. Trademark Searching Investigating a trademark s availability by conducting a full trademark search before adopting a mark greatly reduces the chances of being involved in a costly trademark infringement dispute. Trademark infringement matters often result in the infringer having to change its mark, including ceasing any and all use of the infringing mark on letterhead, business cards, brochures, products, packaging, phone listings, signage, domain names and in all marketing, advertising, and 11

13 promotional materials. Further, the infringer also has to bear the cost of purchasing all new materials to associate with its new mark. If a trademark infringement dispute results in federal court litigation, the infringer may be liable for three times the trademark owner s damages, as well as the trademark owner s attorneys fees and costs of bringing the suit, in addition to having to pay its own attorneys fees and costs. Moreover, many insurance policies do not cover trademark infringement lawsuits, even under an advertising injury rider. Trademark Registration Once the trademark search process is complete and the mark is cleared (meaning that it s deemed available by competent trademark counsel), it is wise to federally register the mark. Provided that the mark is used in interstate commerce a trademark owner can protect it in every state in the country simply by federally registering it. It also is wise to pursue federal trademark registration because such registration evidences the mark s validity and the owner s exclusive right to use the mark nationwide for the goods /services listed in the registration. A certificate of federal trademark registration serves as a title or deed to the trademark asset. This is especially important if one plans to sell its business, whether now or in the future, as most purchasers want evidence that the seller owns the assets that the purchaser seeks to acquire. What are some of the advantages of registering a trademark? International Classification System and Recitation of Goods & Services The Nice Agreement is an international trademark treaty that sets forth 45 International Classifications of goods and services. All U.S. applicants must use this classification system when applying for trademark registration. The PTO charges a $325 filing fee per International Classification. It is important to determine in which International Classes the mark is / will be used before conducting the trademark search, as you want the search to be as accurate as possible. The PTO initially refuses to register 70% 80% of all registration applications filed with it. The majority of the refusals to register are based upon the application s recitation of goods and services (how the applicant describes what it does under the mark). There is a PTO Manual of Acceptable Identifications of Goods and Services on the PTO s website, with which the applicants must comply whenever possible. It is often helpful for applicants to review the registration records of their competitors to determine what recitations the PTO may accept. However, it is also important to know the PTO examiner s mantra Just because another examiner (or 10,000 examiners) did it, does not mean it was right. In other words, just because another examiner allowed a certain recitation does not mean that you will be able to use it as well. Additionally, once an application is filed, the PTO only allows the applicant to narrow or clarify its recitation of goods / services; adding to or substantially altering the recitation is not allowed. Conclusion Trademarks often are a business s most valuable assets. Trademarks are the tools that consumers use to identify what they want and distinguish it from what they don t (i.e., competitors products / services). While the search and registration process can be costly, especially for a start-up 12

14 company, it is always more cost effective to act diligently and pro-actively in the beginning, rather than scrambling to do damage control down the road. Trademark infringement disputes ALWAYS cost more than trademark prosecution; thus, it pays to search, clear and register marks initially rather than to wing it and hope for the best. 13

15 Rimon offers the following flat-fee package for Trademarks: Trademark Search Services Preliminary, knock-out TM search $ FULL outside TM search (words only) $ Review search report; draft opinion letter $ TOTAL TRADEMARK SEARCH ESTIMATE $1, Trademark Fees Drafting and filing of application with USPTO (up to three classes) $ (Each additional class) $ Response to Office Action Review Notice of Publication (up to three classes) $ (Each additional class) $ Draft Statement of Use $ Federal Registration (up to three classes) $ MINIMUM ATTORNEY FEES FOR TM PROSECUTION $1, $ (per hour) **Intent-to-Use Applications will incur additional attorney and government fees. Other activities, including responding to USPTO office actions are billed at an hourly rate of $300/hour. Please ask for details. Government Filing Fees USPTO Filing Fee (per class) $325 Statement of Use Filing Fee $100 THIS IS ONLY A SIMPLE OUTLINE. WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU SPEAK TO A LAWYER TO LEARN WHAT IS BEST FOR YOU. For a free consultation, or to learn more about our trademark services, please contact us: info@rimonlaw.com Telephone:

16 A Primer on Patents A patent is a legal document that defines a set of exclusive rights to a new technology, product or service. The exclusive rights are granted to the patent owner for a limited amount of time and can be leveraged in a variety of ways to support a business strategy and add value to a business. Patents have many strategic uses. Patents can be used to create a legal barrier to competition, to establish a portfolio of assets that can be used to generate revenues through licensing or IP transfers or to augment the value of a business for purposes of raising seed or venture funding. Patent Basics - What types of innovations are patentable? Under U.S. patent law, any person who "invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent." Virtually anything made by man under the sun can be patentable. Utility patents can protect inventions that are novel (new), nonobvious, and useful including the following types of subject matter: Process or method (e.g., method of making or using a product or computer-based processes) Machine (something with moving parts or circuitry) Article of manufacture (such as a tool or another object that accomplishes a result with no moving parts, such as a new hammer) Composition of matter (such as a new pharmaceutical, food, or toothpaste) Or an improvement of any of the above items. Most patents are for incremental improvements made to known or pre-existing technology - thus typically evolution rather than revolution. Even if the invention falls into one of the above categories, there are certain subject matters that cannot be patented including mathematical formulas, naturally occurring substances, abstract ideas, or laws of nature. 15

17 What does a Patent contain? Patents typically contain: > Background of the Invention > Summary of the invention > Detailed Description of the Invention > Example(s) (Actual or Prophetic) (Optional) > Must include at least one claim. The Claims The claims define the exclusive property right provided by a granted patent. Patents include one or more independent claims and may include one or more dependent claims that further narrow the independent claims. Dependent claims are helpful in the event the broader independent claims are later found to be invalid. Provisional Patent Application Rimon Law Group recommends first filing provisional applications since they are less expensive to file compared to non-provisional applications and can be updated less expensively throughout the following year. However, the provisional application should be as complete as possible so that it can ultimately support any patent claims issuing based on that initial filing. That is, the provisional application should not be considered a shortcut but is instead an opportunity to secure an initial filing date at a reduced cost. Accordingly, we strongly recommend drafting the provisional application as if a regular nonprovisional application (including claims and drawings), but filing provisionally. Design Patents In general terms, a utility patent protects the way an article is used and works, while a design patent protects the way an article looks. Both design and utility patents may be obtained on an article if invention resides both in its utility and ornamental appearance. Design patents may be granted for any new, original and ornamental design for an article of manufacture and protects only the appearance of the article and not its structural or utilitarian features. 16

18 Patent Prosecution After the patent application is prepared and filed, there is usually at least one office action issued by the patent office that requires a written response and other formalities to comply with (e.g., the filing of information disclosure statements). Patent prosecution costs can range from $2,000 to $5,000+ depending on the complexity and the office actions involved. Currently, prosecution within the US Patent Office typically does not start until at least 12 months after the filing of the non-provisional application. Rimon Patent Services Rimon s IP attorneys provide value-added services to clients by combining creativity with extensive experience and expertise in key areas. We help our clients secure valuable patent assets, monetize those assets through licensing or business transactions and develop strategies to enforce patent rights through litigation. Rimon s IP attorneys help clients secure valuable patent assets and develop business and legal strategies for using those assets. Our patent services include: Advising on the patentability of inventions. Preparing and prosecuting patent applications to issuance. Managing and developing strategies for patent portfolios. Training personnel to help identify and protect patentable inventions. Performing patent audits to confirm patent assets are optimized for a client s business strategy in a cost-effective manner. Generating patent landscapes for product lines and development roadmaps. Preparing non-infringement and invalidity opinions. Developing design-around strategies. Managing infringement matters or other disputes. Reviewing, negotiating and drafting complex intellectual property, corporate and commercial agreements or other transactions. Advising on merger and acquisition transactions and conducting due diligence relating to intellectual property issues. Our clients include multi-national corporations, small businesses, early-stage startups and individual inventors. Our IP attorneys also provide do it yourself training for cost-conscious clients who wish to protect their patent assets at reduced cost. 17

19 Rimon offers the following flat-fee or reduced fee Startup Packages for Patents: Patentability Searches - Determine whether an invention is patentable or a third party s pending application or granted patent is valid. Preliminary, knock-out search $1,500-2,500 Patentability search & due diligence $5,000 (per independent invention) Opinion $350.00/hour Patent Application Preparation Fees There are three categories of expenses for the typical patent application: (1) attorney fees; (2) filing fees; and (3) drawing fees. Attorney Fees (generally) $350.00/hour Attorney Fees (flat fee options*): Preparation and filing of original application with single inventive concept/focus (10 page specification, 10 claims) $6,000 Preparation and filing of medium sized application $8,000 (20 pages, 20 claims) Preparation and filing of large complex application $10,000-15,000+ Design Patent Application $750 (plus drawings and gov t fees) * Requires inventor(s) assistance in drafting process, which may further reduce fees. Drawing fees $25-100/sheet Government Filing Fees Large Entity Small Entity Provisional Application Filing Fee $220 $110 Provisional Application Size Fee $270 $135 (each 50 sheets over 100 sheets) 18

20 Non-Provisional Application Fees Basic filing fee $330 $165 Basic filing fee- Utility (electronic filing) $82 Independent claims in excess of three $220 $110 Claims in excess of 20 $52 $26 Application Size fee (each 50 sheets $270 $135 over 100 sheets) Search Fee $540 $270 Examination Fee $220 $110 Surcharge for late filing fee, search fee, $130 $65 examination fee, or oath or declaration Extension of Time fees (1-5 months) $ $65-1,175 Issue Fee $1,510 $755 Patent Maintenance Fee (3.5 years) $980 $490 Patent Maintenance Fee (7.5 years) $2,480 $1,240 Patent Maintenance Fee (11.5 years) $4,110 $2,055 PCT Patent Application Transmittal Fee $240 Search Fee $2,080 Preliminary Examination Fee $600 (US was ISA) $750 (US was not the ISA) Design Patent Filing Fee $220 $110 For each additional 50 sheets $270 $135 that exceeds 100 sheets 19

21 Search Fee $100 $50 Examination Fee $140 $70 Issue Fee $860 $430 Maintenance Fees Not Required for Design Patents For updated fee information or information about other patent related government fees, please see 20