Costs.

• Total ex parte cost is about $9,600 consisting of filing fees currently at $2,520 (effective 20-OCT-2008) and attorney fees of $7,000. Additional government filing fees must be paid for reexamination for more than 3 independent claims or claims in excess of 20.
• Total inter partes cost is about $44,000 consisting of filing fees currently at $8,800 (effective 20-OCT-2008) and attorney fees of $35,000 through closing of the prosecution. Both costs may also have additional claim fees. Hourly rates instead of fixed fees are available at $250 per hour.

Comparisons. According to the American Intellectual Property Law Association 2009 Economic Survey---

• for ex parte reexamination, the median cost of attorney fees in 2008 was $10,000;
• for inter partes reexamination, the median cost of attorney fees in 2008 through prosecution is $55,000; through appeal to the Appeal Board is $80,000; and through appeal to the Federal Circuit is $188,000