Why does it cost so much to get a patent?

Why does it cost so much to get a patent?

Matt Dixon (Partner) gives expert video advice on: What is the Patent Office?; When are patents granted?; How do I file for a patent application? and more...

Patent laws are extremely complicated, and often times the technology that is being protected is also complicated. So it requires some skill to protect an invention for the next twenty years, and to provide a valuable commercial asset for a company. For that reason, the cost of patent advice can be quite high. But looking at it in the context of a successful invention, it's only a very small investment.