Q: We had contacted a company in Boulder, Colorado to search potential patents as we have an invention idea (COVID-19).
They took two weeks and gave us the patent search results. They now want to give us some proposals for work with their company that they say includes possible design engineering, patent application, legal work with an attorney, marketing, etc.
We want to make sure this company and process is legitimate as we have read about scams in this arena. Can someone help us to decipher if we should move ahead? We are specifically wanting to ask this question to a patent attorney. Thanks.
A: The phrase in your question " they say includes possible design engineering, patent application, legal work with an attorney, marketing, etc" concerns me. It sounds like a "package" of services most often offered by "invention submission" companies. Some may be legitimate, but often they provide very little, are associated with questionable patent counsel, and charge way more than they should for the total. It sounds like you would benefit from discussing your project with a normal patent attorney. Let me know if I can assist.
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