File Your US Patent with the USPTO
Provisional, utility, and design patents prosecuted by USPTO-registered professionals. Fixed two-step pricing so you can validate patentability before committing to full drafting.
- USPTO-registered patent attorneys & patent agents
- Two-step engagement — validate before drafting
- Micro-entity discounts for qualifying inventors
- Provisional → 12-month priority window to file globally
Step One — Strategy & Search
Start with a fixed-fee engagement to validate patentability before committing to full drafting.
- Patentability assessment & prior-art search
- Filing strategy memo and engagement letter
- Confidential consultation with a patent professional
- Step Two ($2,700) only if you proceed to drafting
"We don't draft until we know there's a patent worth drafting. Step One is designed to protect your time and budget."
GTC Patents Team
USPTO-registered patent counsel
Understanding US Patents
A patent is the strongest form of intellectual property protection available — but it only works if you file the right type at the right time.
What Is a US Patent?
A patent is a federal grant from the USPTO giving you the exclusive right to exclude others from making, using, selling, or importing your invention in the United States. Authority comes from Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution and is codified in 35 U.S.C.
Utility Patent — How It Works
Protects functional inventions — processes, machines, manufactures, and compositions of matter — for 20 years from the filing date (35 U.S.C. §154). The most common patent type. Requires novelty (§102), non-obviousness (§103), and utility (§101).
Design Patent — How It Looks
Protects the ornamental, non-functional appearance of a product for 15 years from grant (35 U.S.C. §173). Faster and cheaper than a utility patent — typically issues in 12–18 months. Ideal for consumer products, packaging, and graphical user interfaces.
Provisional vs. Non-Provisional
A provisional application establishes a priority date and gives you 12 months to file a non-provisional. It is never examined and never becomes a patent. The non-provisional (utility) is the actual examined application that, when granted, becomes your enforceable patent.
Patent vs. Trademark vs. Copyright — at a glance
Protects functional inventions and ornamental designs. 15–20 year term. Requires examination and grant by the USPTO.
Protects brand identifiers (names, logos, slogans). Renewable indefinitely so long as the mark is used in commerce.
Protects original creative works (text, music, software, art). Arises automatically on creation; lasts the author's life + 70 years.
Why File Your US Patent with Us?
Senior IP professionals, fixed pricing, and operational discipline — built for inventors, startups, and growth-stage companies.
USPTO-Registered Patent Professionals
Every US patent application is prosecuted by USPTO-registered patent attorneys or patent agents — a regulatory requirement for anyone representing applicants before the USPTO. Foreign-domiciled inventors are required to use US-licensed counsel; we handle that representation end-to-end.
Fixed Two-Step Pricing
Most firms quote one large opaque retainer. We split the engagement into Step One ($699) for strategy and search and Step Two ($2,700) for drafting and filing — so you can validate patentability before committing the larger budget. No hourly billing surprises.
In-House Patent Illustration Team
USPTO-compliant patent drawings are bundled into Step Two. No separate $200–$400 per-figure invoice from an outside draftsperson — up to 10 figures included for a typical utility application.
Global Filing Coordination
We file directly in major priority jurisdictions and handle PCT international applications via WIPO. Your US filing date becomes the priority date for the rest of the world — and we coordinate national-phase entries from a single point of contact.
Dedicated Case Management & Deadline Tracking
Patent prosecution is deadline-driven (3-month Office Action windows, 12-month provisional cliffs, 3.5/7.5/11.5-year maintenance fees). Every deadline is tracked in our docketing system and surfaced in your client dashboard well in advance.
"Patents are 20-year commercial assets, not paperwork. Our job is to draft claims broad enough to be valuable and tight enough to survive — and to give you the budget visibility to plan your portfolio properly."
GTC Patents Team
USPTO-registered patent counsel
US Patent Pricing — Two-step engagement
Transparent, fixed professional fees. We split the engagement so you can validate patentability before committing to full drafting.
Strategy & Search
- Patentability assessment
- Prior-art search & analysis
- Filing strategy recommendation
- Engagement letter & roadmap
Drafting & Filing
- Full specification drafting
- Independent & dependent claims
- Patent drawings (up to 10 figures)
- USPTO filing & confirmation
Design Patent (full)
Includes formal drawings, specification, and USPTO filing for a single design.
USPTO Government Fees
Passed through at cost. Micro entity ~$400, small entity ~$800, large entity ~$1,600.
All professional fees in USD. Government fees, translations, and complexity surcharges quoted in advance. No hidden charges.
Total Cost of US Patent Filing
All-in budget scenarios from filing to grant. Government fees are passed through at cost from the USPTO; our professional fees are fixed.
Micro Entity Utility
Solo inventors, ≤4 prior applications, income limits
| Step One — Strategy & Search | $699 |
| Step Two — Drafting & Filing | $2,700 |
| USPTO Filing/Search/Exam | ~$430 |
| Issue Fee (at allowance) | ~$300 |
Small Entity Utility
Companies with ≤500 employees
| Step One — Strategy & Search | $699 |
| Step Two — Drafting & Filing | $2,700 |
| USPTO Filing/Search/Exam | ~$860 |
| Issue Fee (at allowance) | ~$600 |
Design Patent (full)
Ornamental appearance — single design
| Drafting, Drawings & Filing | $1,800 – $2,400 |
| USPTO Filing/Search/Exam | ~$220 |
| Issue Fee (at allowance) | ~$370 |
| Maintenance fees | None |
Included in our professional fees
- Patentability search and Step One strategy memo
- Specification, claims, abstract, and inventorship declaration
- USPTO-compliant patent drawings (up to 10 figures)
- USPTO filing, fee payment, and confirmation
- Assignment preparation and recordation (if assigning to a company)
- Deadline tracking through grant
Office Action responses, RCEs, appeals, and Track One prioritized examination (~$2,170 small-entity gov fee for ~12-month grant) are quoted separately when applicable. Maintenance fees at 3.5 / 7.5 / 11.5 years are passed through at cost.
How We Compare on US Patent Filings
USPTO-registered representation at fixed pricing — without the boutique-firm hourly bill or the "templated" online-filing tradeoffs.
| Feature |
Best Value
GTC
|
LegalZoom | Boutique IP firm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Step One (search & strategy) | $699 fixed | Bundled (opaque) | $1,500 – $3,000 |
| Step Two (drafting & filing — utility) | $2,700 fixed | $1,599+ basic | $8,000 – $15,000 |
| USPTO-registered prosecutor | |||
| Prior-art search included | |||
| Patent drawings included | Up to 10 figures | Extra cost | Extra cost |
| Hourly billing surprises | |||
| Client dashboard & deadline tracking | |||
| International filing coordination |
Comparison reflects publicly listed pricing as of 2026 and typical boutique IP firm hourly rates. Government fees are set by the USPTO and identical across providers.
“I've had the pleasure of working with Rajat for many years. He has expertly guided me through the process of registering my company in the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and more. His deep knowledge of trademark law across jurisdictions is impressive.”
“We had various US trademarks to submit, and the team at Modi & Zaidi handled the entire process. They are friendly, knowledgeable and punctual. We will definitely use their services again.”
“Working with Maryam & the team of Rajat Modi has been an exceptional experience. Her professionalism, knowledge, and commitment to my case have been evident throughout the process.”
“I am a regular customer of GTC. They have done more than 15 Multi-Countries Trademarks for me so far. Their service quality and turnaround time is exceptional.”
“I had infringed on the copyright of a big brand, which threatened to lose my business. However, thanks to the professional work of this team, we signed the best possible contract and saved the business.”
“Global Trademark Company is the best in the business and I've used them for a number of my applications. Highly recommended for anyone looking for reliable trademark services.”
US Patent Prosecution Lifecycle
From the day we sign Step One to the day your patent grants — typically 24–36 months for a utility patent (or ~12 months with Track One prioritized examination).
Step One — Strategy & Search
Patentability assessment, prior-art search, and a written strategy memo recommending whether to file provisional, non-provisional utility, or design — and in which jurisdictions.
Step Two — Drafting
Specification, independent and dependent claims, abstract, and USPTO-compliant drawings (up to 10 figures). Inventor reviews and approves before filing.
USPTO Filing & Filing Receipt
Application is filed via the USPTO Patent Center. You receive a filing receipt with your application number and official priority date — enforceable from this date forward.
Examination & First Office Action
A USPTO examiner reviews your application for novelty (§102), non-obviousness (§103), and utility (§101). The first Office Action typically issues 12–24 months after filing.
Office Action Responses
You have 3 months (extendable to 6) to respond to each Office Action with arguments and/or claim amendments. Examiner interviews are often used to accelerate resolution.
Allowance, Issue Fee & Grant
Once allowed, you have 3 months to pay the issue fee. The patent then grants and your enforceable rights begin — back-dated to your filing date for damages calculations.
Maintenance Fees
Utility patents require maintenance fees at three intervals to remain in force. We track and remind you well in advance. Design patents have no maintenance fees.
Benefits of US patent registration
- 20-year exclusive right to make, use, sell, or import your invention in the US (utility patents)
- Standing to bring infringement actions in U.S. federal court with treble damages for willful infringement (35 U.S.C. §284)
- Critical leverage for venture capital due diligence and Series-A funding rounds
- Foundation for licensing deals, royalty streams, and acquisition valuation
- Enforcement against counterfeit imports via U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) Section 337 actions
- Patent marking under 35 U.S.C. §287 to recover damages from the date of infringement
- Defensive protection — your published application becomes prior art that blocks competitors' filings
- Recognized intangible asset on the company balance sheet for accounting and acquisition purposes
What you'll need to get started
- 1Invention disclosure — written description of how your invention works (and why it's new)
- 2Inventorship — full legal names of all inventors who contributed to the claimed invention
- 3Sketches, drawings, or photographs of the invention (we redraft these to USPTO standards)
- 4Disclosure of any prior art known to the inventor (Rule 1.56 duty of candor)
- 5Assignment documentation if the invention is owned by a company rather than the inventor personally
We treat all disclosures as confidential. For detailed technical information, we recommend signing an NDA before the second meeting.
Beyond the US — Coordinated IP Protection
A US patent is often the first step in a broader IP strategy. We coordinate global patent filings, trademarks, and copyrights from a single point of contact.
PCT International Filing
One application preserves rights in many countries for up to 30 months — buy time before national-phase decisions.
Learn more about pct international filingEuropean Patent (EPO)
File a single European patent application that, once granted, can be validated in the EPC contracting states.
Learn more about european patent (epo)India Patent Filing
File with the Indian Patent Office (CGPDTM) — including utility patents, designs, and PCT national-phase entries.
Learn more about india patent filingChina Patent Filing (CNIPA)
Invention, utility model, and design patents through CNIPA. Translation and Chinese-agent representation handled in-house.
Learn more about china patent filing (cnipa)All Patent Jurisdictions
Browse the full list of patent jurisdictions we file in — US, EPO, India, China, UK, Canada, Japan, Korea, Australia, and PCT.
Learn more about all patent jurisdictionsTrademark & Copyright Protection
Patents protect inventions; trademarks protect your brand and copyrights protect your creative works. Most companies need all three.
Learn more about trademark & copyright protectionFrequently asked questions
Filing in multiple countries?
Consider PCT international instead of the US alone.
One PCT application filed via WIPO preserves your priority right in many countries for up to 30/31 months — including the US — giving you 18 extra months to evaluate commercial viability before committing to national-phase filings.
Request your US patent consultation
Tell us about your invention. A USPTO-registered patent professional will respond within one business day. All disclosures are treated as confidential.
Start your patent application
Tell us about your invention through our guided intake. A senior patent professional reviews your United States filing goals and responds with a strategy and Step One quote — no payment required upfront.
- Registered patent attorneys & agents — confidential consultation
- Flat $699 Step One — strategy, prior-art search & filing-route recommendation
We respond within one business day. No obligation.
