Disputes, Enforcement & Pre-Litigation

Every engagement in this service

Market-benchmarked flat-fee legal pricing. Attorney fees are scoped in advance against a written deliverable and set with reference to public competitor ranges and official USPTO, Copyright Office, and WIPO fees. Government and third-party fees are billed separately, at cost.

• Pre-Litigation Patent Risk Review

  Tiered Fee · Attorney fee: $4,000–$9,000

  Engagement type: Tiered Fee

  Attorney fee: $4,000–$9,000
  $4,000 – $9,000 (final fee set by complexity)
  USPTO / USCO / WIPO fees billed separately at cost.

  Best for
  A focused pre-litigation risk review of a patent dispute that has been signaled (e.g., demand letter, marking notice, or competitor activity), before deciding on response strategy.

  What’s included

  • Review of the dispute background and asserted patent(s).
  • Attorney memo with claim-level commentary and recommended posture.

  What’s NOT included

  • Government, third-party, foreign-associate, translation, courier, and vendor fees.
  • Continued prosecution, additional office actions, or post-allowance work beyond what is expressly itemized.
  • Litigation, contested proceedings (IPR/PGR/PTAB, oppositions, cancellations), or appeal work.
  • Work on additional applications, jurisdictions, classes, or marks not listed in the engagement letter.
  • Litigation, formal mediation, or testifying-expert work.

  Client responsibilities

  • Provide complete, accurate, and timely technical / business disclosures.
  • Review and approve drafts and filings before submission.
  • Pay government and third-party fees in advance of any filing deadline.
  • Provide all communications received from the other side and the accused product details.

  Assumptions

  • Standard complexity for the service category.
  • One primary applicant or business entity; one primary jurisdiction unless otherwise stated.
  • One round of substantive client revisions included.
  • No material adverse facts (e.g., prior public disclosure, intervening prior art) discovered after engagement.

  Scope-change triggers

  • Material change in scope, claims, embodiments, classes, marks, or jurisdictions.
  • Adversarial action by a third party (opposition, cancellation, declaratory action).
  • Expedited / emergency turnaround required to meet a statutory or self-imposed deadline.
  • After-discovered prior art, prior use, or undisclosed prior filings.
  • Initiation of suit or formal mediation moves the matter outside this engagement.

  Deliverables
  Risk review memo.

  Typical timing
  Typically 3–5 weeks.

  Pay for this service or book a call first.

• IPR / PTAB Support

  Tiered Fee · Attorney fee: $7,500–$18,000

  Engagement type: Tiered Fee

  Attorney fee: $7,500–$18,000
  $7,500 – $18,000 (final fee set by stage and scope)
  USPTO / USCO / WIPO fees billed separately at cost.

  Best for
  Petitioner- or patent-owner-side support for IPR or PTAB proceedings — most commonly prior-art search, claim analysis, or drafting assistance for lead counsel.

  What’s included

  • Defined scope of search, claim analysis, or drafting support as set in the engagement letter.
  • Working sessions with lead counsel.

  What’s NOT included

  • Government, third-party, foreign-associate, translation, courier, and vendor fees.
  • Continued prosecution, additional office actions, or post-allowance work beyond what is expressly itemized.
  • Litigation, contested proceedings (IPR/PGR/PTAB, oppositions, cancellations), or appeal work.
  • Work on additional applications, jurisdictions, classes, or marks not listed in the engagement letter.
  • Lead-counsel representation before the PTAB unless expressly stated in the engagement letter.
  • Discovery, depositions, and oral hearings beyond the agreed scope.

  Client responsibilities

  • Provide complete, accurate, and timely technical / business disclosures.
  • Review and approve drafts and filings before submission.
  • Pay government and third-party fees in advance of any filing deadline.

  Assumptions

  • Standard complexity for the service category.
  • One primary applicant or business entity; one primary jurisdiction unless otherwise stated.
  • One round of substantive client revisions included.
  • No material adverse facts (e.g., prior public disclosure, intervening prior art) discovered after engagement.

  Scope-change triggers

  • Material change in scope, claims, embodiments, classes, marks, or jurisdictions.
  • Adversarial action by a third party (opposition, cancellation, declaratory action).
  • Expedited / emergency turnaround required to meet a statutory or self-imposed deadline.
  • After-discovered prior art, prior use, or undisclosed prior filings.
  • Stage transitions (institution, trial, hearing) are tiered.

  Deliverables
  Per engagement letter.

  Typical timing
  Set in writing.

  Pay for this service or book a call first.

• Technical Claim Analysis

  Tiered Fee · Attorney fee: $3,500–$8,500

  Engagement type: Tiered Fee

  Attorney fee: $3,500–$8,500
  $3,500 – $8,500 (final fee set by complexity)
  USPTO / USCO / WIPO fees billed separately at cost.

  Best for
  A focused technical claim analysis (claim chart) for a specific patent or set of patents, often used to support pre-litigation, licensing, or settlement decisions.

  What’s included

  • Claim construction and element-by-element analysis.
  • Claim chart and written commentary.

  What’s NOT included

  • Government, third-party, foreign-associate, translation, courier, and vendor fees.
  • Continued prosecution, additional office actions, or post-allowance work beyond what is expressly itemized.
  • Litigation, contested proceedings (IPR/PGR/PTAB, oppositions, cancellations), or appeal work.
  • Work on additional applications, jurisdictions, classes, or marks not listed in the engagement letter.
  • Court appearances and expert testimony.

  Client responsibilities

  • Provide complete, accurate, and timely technical / business disclosures.
  • Review and approve drafts and filings before submission.
  • Pay government and third-party fees in advance of any filing deadline.

  Assumptions

  • Standard complexity for the service category.
  • One primary applicant or business entity; one primary jurisdiction unless otherwise stated.
  • One round of substantive client revisions included.
  • No material adverse facts (e.g., prior public disclosure, intervening prior art) discovered after engagement.

  Scope-change triggers

  • Material change in scope, claims, embodiments, classes, marks, or jurisdictions.
  • Adversarial action by a third party (opposition, cancellation, declaratory action).
  • Expedited / emergency turnaround required to meet a statutory or self-imposed deadline.
  • After-discovered prior art, prior use, or undisclosed prior filings.

  Deliverables
  Claim chart and commentary.

  Typical timing
  Typically 3–5 weeks.

  Pay for this service or book a call first.

• Cease & Desist

  Flat Fee · Attorney fee: From $850

  Engagement type: Flat Fee

  Attorney fee: From $850
  Starting at $850 (attorney fee, limited scope)
  USPTO / USCO / WIPO fees billed separately at cost.

  Best for
  A streamlined cease-and-desist letter for a narrow scope (e.g., obvious copy/paste copyright infringement or single-mark unauthorized use).

  What’s included
  Drafted limited-scope letter.

  What’s NOT included

  • Government, third-party, foreign-associate, translation, courier, and vendor fees.
  • Continued prosecution, additional office actions, or post-allowance work beyond what is expressly itemized.
  • Litigation, contested proceedings (IPR/PGR/PTAB, oppositions, cancellations), or appeal work.
  • Work on additional applications, jurisdictions, classes, or marks not listed in the engagement letter.
  • Follow-up correspondence beyond the initial letter (separate engagement).

  Client responsibilities

  • Provide complete, accurate, and timely technical / business disclosures.
  • Review and approve drafts and filings before submission.
  • Pay government and third-party fees in advance of any filing deadline.

  Assumptions

  • Standard complexity for the service category.
  • One primary applicant or business entity; one primary jurisdiction unless otherwise stated.
  • One round of substantive client revisions included.
  • No material adverse facts (e.g., prior public disclosure, intervening prior art) discovered after engagement.
  • Narrow scope; one cycle.

  Scope-change triggers

  • Material change in scope, claims, embodiments, classes, marks, or jurisdictions.
  • Adversarial action by a third party (opposition, cancellation, declaratory action).
  • Expedited / emergency turnaround required to meet a statutory or self-imposed deadline.
  • After-discovered prior art, prior use, or undisclosed prior filings.

  Deliverables
  Drafted letter.

  Typical timing
  Typically 1 week.

  Standard engagement (quoted after intake)
  Cease & Desist Letter — attorney fee $1,800. A focused cease-and-desist letter against a single counterparty, typically in IP-infringement, brand, or copyright contexts. The fuller-scope version of this engagement, quoted after intake.

  Pay for this service or book a call first.

• Pre-Litigation Strategy

  Flat Fee · Attorney fee: $3,500

  Engagement type: Flat Fee

  Attorney fee: $3,500
  $3,500 (flat)
  USPTO / USCO / WIPO fees billed separately at cost.

  Best for
  A focused pre-litigation strategy session and memo, typically used after a demand letter is received or sent.

  What’s included

  • Working session and review of the matter.
  • Strategy memo with prioritized options.

  What’s NOT included

  • Government, third-party, foreign-associate, translation, courier, and vendor fees.
  • Continued prosecution, additional office actions, or post-allowance work beyond what is expressly itemized.
  • Litigation, contested proceedings (IPR/PGR/PTAB, oppositions, cancellations), or appeal work.
  • Work on additional applications, jurisdictions, classes, or marks not listed in the engagement letter.
  • Litigation work and formal mediation.

  Client responsibilities

  • Provide complete, accurate, and timely technical / business disclosures.
  • Review and approve drafts and filings before submission.
  • Pay government and third-party fees in advance of any filing deadline.

  Assumptions

  • Standard complexity for the service category.
  • One primary applicant or business entity; one primary jurisdiction unless otherwise stated.
  • One round of substantive client revisions included.
  • No material adverse facts (e.g., prior public disclosure, intervening prior art) discovered after engagement.

  Scope-change triggers

  • Material change in scope, claims, embodiments, classes, marks, or jurisdictions.
  • Adversarial action by a third party (opposition, cancellation, declaratory action).
  • Expedited / emergency turnaround required to meet a statutory or self-imposed deadline.
  • After-discovered prior art, prior use, or undisclosed prior filings.

  Deliverables
  Strategy memo.

  Typical timing
  Typically 2–3 weeks.

  Pay for this service or book a call first.

• Litigation Handoff

  Flat Fee · Attorney fee: $3,000

  Engagement type: Flat Fee

  Attorney fee: $3,000
  $3,000 (flat)
  USPTO / USCO / WIPO fees billed separately at cost.

  Best for
  Clients moving an IP matter from this firm to litigation counsel who need a clean, organized handoff package.

  What’s included

  • Curated case file and chronology.
  • Issue memo and recommended litigation-counsel briefing materials.

  What’s NOT included

  • Government, third-party, foreign-associate, translation, courier, and vendor fees.
  • Continued prosecution, additional office actions, or post-allowance work beyond what is expressly itemized.
  • Litigation, contested proceedings (IPR/PGR/PTAB, oppositions, cancellations), or appeal work.
  • Work on additional applications, jurisdictions, classes, or marks not listed in the engagement letter.
  • Active litigation work by this firm.

  Client responsibilities

  • Provide complete, accurate, and timely technical / business disclosures.
  • Review and approve drafts and filings before submission.
  • Pay government and third-party fees in advance of any filing deadline.

  Assumptions

  • Standard complexity for the service category.
  • One primary applicant or business entity; one primary jurisdiction unless otherwise stated.
  • One round of substantive client revisions included.
  • No material adverse facts (e.g., prior public disclosure, intervening prior art) discovered after engagement.

  Scope-change triggers

  • Material change in scope, claims, embodiments, classes, marks, or jurisdictions.
  • Adversarial action by a third party (opposition, cancellation, declaratory action).
  • Expedited / emergency turnaround required to meet a statutory or self-imposed deadline.
  • After-discovered prior art, prior use, or undisclosed prior filings.

  Deliverables
  Handoff package.

  Typical timing
  Typically 2–3 weeks.

  Pay for this service or book a call first.

• Founder / Co-Founder Ownership Dispute

  Flat Fee · Attorney fee: $4,500

  Engagement type: Flat Fee

  Attorney fee: $4,500
  $4,500 (flat)
  USPTO / USCO / WIPO fees billed separately at cost.

  Best for
  A focused engagement to evaluate and document IP and ownership questions in a founder/co-founder dispute.

  What’s included

  • Review of founders’ agreements, employment / contractor agreements, and IP filings.
  • Written memo with prioritized options and recommended documentation steps.

  What’s NOT included

  • Government, third-party, foreign-associate, translation, courier, and vendor fees.
  • Continued prosecution, additional office actions, or post-allowance work beyond what is expressly itemized.
  • Litigation, contested proceedings (IPR/PGR/PTAB, oppositions, cancellations), or appeal work.
  • Work on additional applications, jurisdictions, classes, or marks not listed in the engagement letter.
  • Litigation and contested mediation.

  Client responsibilities

  • Provide complete, accurate, and timely technical / business disclosures.
  • Review and approve drafts and filings before submission.
  • Pay government and third-party fees in advance of any filing deadline.

  Assumptions

  • Standard complexity for the service category.
  • One primary applicant or business entity; one primary jurisdiction unless otherwise stated.
  • One round of substantive client revisions included.
  • No material adverse facts (e.g., prior public disclosure, intervening prior art) discovered after engagement.

  Scope-change triggers

  • Material change in scope, claims, embodiments, classes, marks, or jurisdictions.
  • Adversarial action by a third party (opposition, cancellation, declaratory action).
  • Expedited / emergency turnaround required to meet a statutory or self-imposed deadline.
  • After-discovered prior art, prior use, or undisclosed prior filings.

  Deliverables
  Ownership-dispute memo.

  Typical timing

  • Typically 3–5 weeks.
  • ## Other Dispute Engagements (Custom-Quoted)
  • Pre-Litigation Response (received-letter side). Counseling and response to a received demand or marking notice. Custom-quoted because scope depends on the asserting party’s conduct.
  • Pre-Litigation Enforcement (assertion side). Building and executing a pre-litigation assertion plan. Custom-quoted by program scope.
  • Amazon / Platform IP Disputes. Platform-specific takedown, counter-notice, and brand-gating disputes (Amazon, Etsy, eBay, etc.). Custom-quoted by platform and volume.
  • Defense / Dual-Use Pre-Litigation Compliance. Pre-litigation compliance review where dual-use or export-sensitive technology is implicated. See the RDT&E / Government / Defense section.
  • Every flat or tiered fee in this catalog is built around a defined scope. This checklist summarizes the most common conditions that may cause a previously quoted fee to be revisited. Anything on this list will be discussed with the client before scope or fees change.
  • ## Inputs from the Client
  • Materially new or revised invention description, claims, embodiments, or products.
  • Material change in the goods/services, classes, marks, or jurisdictions.
  • Identification of additional inventors, applicants, owners, or accused products.
  • Discovery of previously undisclosed prior art, prior public use, prior offers for sale, or prior filings.
  • Material delays in providing complete information that compress an attorney work window into a rush window.
  • ## Counterparty / Third-Party Actions
  • Adverse third-party actions (oppositions, cancellations, declaratory actions, IPR/PGR petitions).
  • Demand letters, marking notices, or platform-based IP claims that arise during the engagement.
  • Counterparty insistence on extended negotiation cycles beyond the agreed scope.
  • ## Government / Regulatory Inputs
  • Substantial change in examiner practice, MPEP guidance, or fee schedules during the engagement.
  • Audit selection, restriction practice with multiple species elections, or final actions requiring expanded response.
  • Foreign-jurisdiction or international-phase work added to a previously U.S.-only engagement.
  • ## Operational / Timing Inputs
  • Requests for expedited or emergency turnaround to meet a deadline.
  • Reopening of a previously closed engagement after a material gap (which may require re-familiarization time).
  • Substantial use of foreign associates, expert witnesses, or specialty search vendors.
  • When any of the above arises, the firm will (a) explain the change in scope or fee in writing, (b) describe the affected deliverables and timeline, and (c) only proceed on the revised basis after the client has confirmed in writing. Clients can always pause, rescope, or end an engagement subject to the terms of the signed engagement letter.
  • THE SCITECH & IP LAW FIRM PLLC
  • William J. Furlow · USPTO-Registered Patent Attorney · Austin, Texas
  • info@scitechlawfirm.com · scitechlawfirm.com
  • Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. This catalog is not legal advice and does not, by itself, create an attorney-client relationship.

  Pay for this service or book a call first.

• Marketplace Takedown & Account Defense

  Tiered Fee · Attorney fee: $350–$500 / $1,500 / $2,300–$2,800 / from $3,000

  Engagement type: Tiered Fee

  Attorney fee: $350–$500 / $1,500 / $2,300–$2,800 / from $3,000
  Tier 1: $350 – $500 single-platform takedown notice (rights holder) · Tier 2: $1,500 standard listing or account appeal · Tier 3: $2,300 – $2,800 IP-complaint defence including formal retraction outreach · Tier 4: from $3,000 TRO or Schedule A defence
  USPTO / USCO / WIPO fees billed separately at cost.

  Best for
  Sellers whose listing or account has been suspended on an IP complaint, and rights holders who need infringing listings removed.

  What’s included

  • Tier 1 — single-platform takedown notice on behalf of the rights holder.
  • Tier 2 — standard listing or account appeal, drafted and submitted.
  • Tier 3 — defence against an IP complaint, including formal retraction outreach to the complainant.
  • Tier 4 — TRO response or Schedule A defence.

  What’s NOT included

  • Government, third-party, foreign-associate, translation, courier, and vendor fees.
  • Litigation filings, contested proceedings, or appeal work.
  • Work on additional platforms, marks, or parties not listed in the engagement letter.

  Client responsibilities

  • Provide complete, accurate, and timely business and technical disclosures.
  • Review and approve every letter or filing before it goes out.
  • Pay government, platform, and third-party fees in advance of any deadline.

  Assumptions

  • Standard complexity for the service category.
  • One primary business entity; one primary jurisdiction unless otherwise stated.
  • One round of substantive client revisions included.
  • No material adverse facts discovered after engagement.

  Scope-change triggers

  • Material change in scope, parties, platforms, or jurisdictions.
  • Adversarial escalation — suit filed, TRO sought, or a contested proceeding opened.
  • Expedited or emergency turnaround to meet a deadline.
  • After-discovered facts that change the risk picture.

  Deliverables
  The notice, appeal, or defence submission, plus a short written record of what was filed and when.

  Typical timing
  Tier 1 and 2 typically within one week; Tiers 3 and 4 set in the engagement letter.

  Pay for this service or book a call first.

• Infringement & Enforcement Demand Letters — Send or Respond

  Tiered Fee · Attorney fee: $450–$600 / $1,200–$2,000 / $3,000–$5,000

  Engagement type: Tiered Fee

  Attorney fee: $450–$600 / $1,200–$2,000 / $3,000–$5,000
  Tier 1: $450 – $600 written assessment of whether the claim is worth worrying about · Tier 2: $1,200 – $2,000 single response letter, one round, bounded scope · Tier 3: $3,000 – $5,000 full demand-response engagement including negotiation
  USPTO / USCO / WIPO fees billed separately at cost.

  Best for
  Anyone who has received an infringement demand, and rights holders who need one sent.

  What’s included

  • Tier 1 — written assessment of the claim and your exposure.
  • Tier 2 — a single response or demand letter, one round, bounded scope.
  • Tier 3 — full demand-response engagement, including negotiation with the other side.

  What’s NOT included

  • Government, third-party, foreign-associate, translation, courier, and vendor fees.
  • Litigation filings, contested proceedings, or appeal work.
  • Work on additional platforms, marks, or parties not listed in the engagement letter.

  Client responsibilities

  • Provide complete, accurate, and timely business and technical disclosures.
  • Review and approve every letter or filing before it goes out.
  • Pay government, platform, and third-party fees in advance of any deadline.

  Assumptions

  • Standard complexity for the service category.
  • One primary business entity; one primary jurisdiction unless otherwise stated.
  • One round of substantive client revisions included.
  • No material adverse facts discovered after engagement.

  Scope-change triggers

  • Material change in scope, parties, platforms, or jurisdictions.
  • Adversarial escalation — suit filed, TRO sought, or a contested proceeding opened.
  • Expedited or emergency turnaround to meet a deadline.
  • After-discovered facts that change the risk picture.

  Deliverables
  The written assessment or letter, and a short note on the likely next step.

  Typical timing
  Tier 1 typically within one week; Tiers 2 and 3 set in the engagement letter.

  Pay for this service or book a call first.

Final fee confirmed in the engagement letter. Figures on this page are illustrative. Flat fees may be split into milestones where the engagement letter allows.

Often paired with

Patent

The claim analysis and validity work that a dispute turns on.

View service

Trademark

Registration and watch services that establish the rights being enforced.

View service

IP Commercialization, Investment & Policy Advisory

Chain-of-title and ownership review when standing is in question.

View service