As tech start-ups struggle against huge companies to bring innovative new inventions and software to market, patents should level the playing field. But over the past decade increasingly complex court rulings have made obtaining a high quality patent, one that will attract investors and hold up in court, much more difficult and much more expensive.
How expensive? By some estimates applying for a patent for new technology/software can cost upwards of $20,000 – and that’s just a start. It doesn’t include the investment of expertise, and time. There are financing companies now, though, that will finance the patent application process in exchange for equity in a company. This can be a helpful for option for new companies.