216 Horseshoe Dr, Mars PA 16046
How to Choose Patent and Trademark Services
Attorney Shopping is like Shoe Shopping: Pay Attention to Value
Shopping for patent or trademark services is a lot like shoe shopping: with all those choices and price ranges, finding the right fit can be challenging. Should I pay top dollar for a large, prestigious law firm, or opt for DIY online services like LegalZoom? For most small businesses, startups, and individuals, neither option is the best choice when considering value for your money. Big Law offers one-stop shopping at a premium price, but why pay extra for access to services you'll never use? On the other hand, DIY online services may provide generic solutions that are workable but not tailored to your specific needs. Boutique firms like mine specialize in intellectual property law, providing personalized services while leveraging networks with trusted professionals to keep costs affordable. Our approach means we truly get to know you and your business, offering advice that is tailored to your needs, flexibility to accommodate your growth, and better overall value. I founded a virtual law firm in rural Pennsylvania in the Greater Pittsburgh area to help underserved communities, allowing me to serve rural clients across the United States with dedicated patent attorney support.
Cost vs. Value: Why DIY is a Low Value Proposition
On the other end of legal services are DIY sites like LegalZoom that offer low-cost legal services, which may seem like a bargain at first glance. But are they truly a good option for your intellectual property law needs?
Let's Compare:
DIY trademark registration services:
- Limited procedural help only with the initial application process.
- Questionnaires guide your DIY filing, not people.
- No strategic or substantive review of your application or mark.
- General advice that lacks specificity to your situation or needs.
- Allows filing of weak and unregistrable marks.
- No post-filing assistance during the examination of the application.
- Low flat fee pricing purchases limited services.
- You have to pay extra to address specific questions or concerns.
- DIY services operate as directed, right or wrong.
- You are responsible for deadlines after filing.
- Searches do not provide an analysis of search results.
Karen's trademark services:
- Prior to filing, I gather and evaluate background information about your business and the mark to provide tailored advice specific to your intellectual property law needs.
- The strength of your trademark is evaluated thoroughly.
- I offer substantive advice specific to your trademark strengths and weaknesses.
- A search and analysis of potential conflicts is included.
- I provide strategic advice regarding the timing of application filings and types of filings.
- Each application is positioned to be in its best possible state for registration before filing.
- I offer expert help in responding to registration objections and other obstacles during examination.
- My flat fee pricing includes substantive advice and professional care for your application.
- I take care of everything; no need for you to worry about deadlines.
Trademarks filed by attorneys, like those in my trademark services, have a significantly higher grant rate than trademarks filed by others, primarily due to the better quality of applications. While DIY options can save money upfront, they often end up costing far more in the long run.
Which service provides better value for cost? Have you ever regretted purchasing something that was initially cheap? Remember, you get what you pay for.
Cost Control: I offer simplified fees to help clients understand and control costs. As a fellow business owner, I run a modern virtual law firm with low overhead. Located in the Cranberry Township-Adams-Wexford-Butler area north of downtown Pittsburgh, I serve clients nationwide with my focus on personalized, creative problem-solving in intellectual property law.
It's what I do best!
Right-Sized Flexible Legal Strategies Tailored for You
Entrepreneurs and startups require more than standard legal services; they need the best practical advice at an affordable cost as they build their businesses. Big Law tends to favor established clients who provide steady work and income. Their high fees are often designed to exclude startups and individuals, who are seen as financially risky and require innovative problem-solving that doesn't always align with traditional legal advice.
When I worked at a Big Law firm, if a client requested to sue, we proceeded without question. However, there was a time when I convinced a client to explore a non-legal solution instead of litigation, which infuriated my boss. Fortunately, that client appreciated my creative advice and informed my boss how grateful he was, deciding to bring all of his legal work to us. Did the firm’s mindset change? Absolutely not. My boss acknowledged my approach once, but the next time, if a client said to sue, we sued.
Consequently, I left that firm.
My current philosophy is to provide intellectual property law services, including patent and trademark services, tailored to each client’s specific needs. As an entrepreneur managing a virtual law practice, I possess firsthand knowledge of the challenges involved in starting new businesses and the creative solutions necessary to help new and growing companies control costs. If I believe that a patent will not add value to a client's business, I will be honest about it and explain my reasoning. Unfortunately, not everyone in Pittsburgh and the surrounding communities of Cranberry Township and Butler shares this perspective.