If your idea is unpatented, you should contact a registered patent attorney who, if are engaged by you, may choose to conduct a more thorough patent search, and prepare an opinion on your behalf and or will provide patent application services.

You understand, of course, that you can always choose a patent attorney other than the one to whom you may have been referred to by us.

The Patent Attorney will be able to provide you with a record of their discovery, the list of patents searched as well as documentation of patents that they believe may be of concern to you.

The key to this process is contained within their considered opinion and with their professional conclusions and their final recommendations as to the patentability of the invention or design.

A Patent Attorney search is the safest and most accurate way of discovery at the first point and estimates of search costs can be provided by the Patent Attorney once they have detailed information about your technology.

The IP Australia website has published a rough guide to total costs for a patent.
They suggest that the average estimated cost of an Australian standard patent, including attorney fees, is between $6,000 to $10,000, depending on the complexity of your application.

This cost is only to be used as a guide, you should contact a patent attorney for specific advice on your circumstance.

Maintenance fees over a 20 year term would also be a further $8,000.

For a complete list of Patent Attorneys go to Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys