# Can I FILE My Own Patent Application?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-file-my-own-patent-application/102168>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 6, 2002, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-file-my-own-patent-application/102168 "2002-04-06T12:46:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\
**Post date:** [April 6, 2002, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-file-my-own-patent-application/102168/1 "2002-04-06T12:46:11Z")

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I ask this because I have an excellent idea for an invention, that would be immediately sellable to a couple of large firms. I have the whole thing written up, and since I am an engineer, I have dealt with patent lawyers before. My problem is, I don’t have the money to pay a patent attorney now, so can I :  
-do my own patent search  
-file my aptent application with the patent office?  
Seems like I can do this-I can write the same leagla lingo, and certainly I know much more about this rather esoteric method, than most patent lawyesr.😕

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**Author:** ![PosterChild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e274bd/32.png) [@PosterChild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PosterChild)\
**Post date:** [April 6, 2002, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-file-my-own-patent-application/102168/2 "2002-04-06T16:44:54Z")

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Yes

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**Author:** ![Lost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/22d042/32.png) [@Lost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lost)\
**Post date:** [April 6, 2002, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-file-my-own-patent-application/102168/3 "2002-04-06T17:39:32Z")

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Take a look here for your answer - this page says you can search and file online.

[http://www.uspto.gov/main/patents.htm](http://www.uspto.gov/main/patents.htm)

[U.S. Patent Office](http://www.uspto.gov/main/patents.htm)

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**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\
**Post date:** [April 6, 2002, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-file-my-own-patent-application/102168/4 "2002-04-06T17:57:52Z")

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And when you file over the web, make sure you file as a small business. The fees are mostly 1/2 of large businesses’ fees.