Patent protection
How US patents protect an invention, the difference between utility and design patents, and how to find a licensed patent attorney or registered patent agent — free.
Learn more →Free · multilingual · flat-fee
Protect your idea the right way.
FiledClaim is a free way to understand US patents, trademarks, and copyrights in plain language — and get matched with a licensed patent or IP professional who fits your idea, your budget, and your language.
Always free for inventors & applicantsFlat-fee professionals10 languages
FiledClaim is a free matching service, not a law firm or a patent agent. You compare and choose who to hire.
The process
From idea to issued protection
Protecting an idea runs in clear, ordered steps. Here is the path most patents and trademarks follow — you stay in control the whole way.
What to protect
Patent & IP help, explained plainly
The kinds of protection the licensed professionals we match you with handle.
Patent & trademark search
Why a prior-art and trademark search comes first, what it can and can't tell you, and how to get one done by a professional — matched free, in your language.
Learn more →Trademark registration
How to protect a brand name, logo, or slogan with a US trademark, what registration involves, and how to find a trademark attorney — free, multilingual matching.
Learn more →Copyright protection
How copyright protects original work, when to register with the US Copyright Office, and how it differs from patents and trademarks — explained plainly.
Learn more →IP strategy & portfolio
How inventors and small businesses plan, budget, and maintain patents and trademarks over time, and how to find a professional to help — at no cost to you.
Learn more →Filing types
Which protection fits your work?
Different work needs different protection. These are typical flat-fee ranges, not quotes — the real number depends on your invention and the professional.
| Filing types | What it protects | How long it lasts | Typical flat fee | Who can file it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utility patent | How an invention works | Up to ~20 years | $3,000–10,000+ | Patent attorney or agent |
| Design patent | How a product looks | ~15 years | $1,500–3,500 | Patent attorney or agent |
| Provisional | Holds your filing date | 12 months | $1,500–4,000 | Patent attorney or agent |
| Trademark | A brand name or logo | Renewable, indefinitely | $700–2,000 | Trademark attorney |
| Copyright | Original creative work | Life + 70 years | $65–500 | You can file; attorney optional |
Guides
Learn how it works first
Plain-language guides to the cost, the steps, and the timelines — before you spend a dollar.
Patent vs Trademark vs Copyright
Which one protects your work? A plain-language guide to the three main types of US intellectual property and what each one covers.
Read the guide →How to File a Patent Application
The steps to file a US patent application, from prior-art search to filing, explained plainly for first-time inventors.
Read the guide →Provisional vs Non-Provisional Patent
What a provisional patent application does, what a non-provisional adds, and how the two fit together to hold your filing date.
Read the guide →How Long Does a Patent Take?
Realistic timelines for a US patent — from filing to grant — and what affects how long examination takes.
Read the guide →How Much Does a Patent Cost?
Honest flat-fee ranges for a US patent — search, drafting, filing, and USPTO fees — and what drives the number.
Read the guide →What Happens After You File a Patent
USPTO examination explained: office actions, responses, allowance, and what an applicant should expect after filing.
Read the guide →Ready when you are
Get matched with a patent or IP professional
Free for inventors and applicants. A short, non-confidential description and contact details only. You compare flat-fee quotes and choose who to hire, and confirm the fee before any work starts.
Get matched, free