Our Character and the Services we provide.

AFFORDABLE, CONFIDENTIAL, HONEST, and DILIGENT.

As an inventor seeking to develop and market an invention or idea, one needs knowledgable, honest, dependable and aggressive sources for various services.  We are it.  Western Patent Group was formed by me, Chris Whewell, an independent inventor, when I was appalled by the high prices and runaround I got from various "professionals" when I patented my own inventions.

I began conducting patenting searches in 1990.  In 1993 I began writing patent applications and provided consulting to small-entity inventors.   My knowledge base is very broad in several different fields from employement in various industries.  My various experiences in corporations at many levels has provided me with hands-on insight as to what one can expect to get from big companies when negotiating time comes.   I also have 9 years experience dealing with corporate attorneys on a wide range of intellectual property matters.  I know this business from the perspective of the inventor, because I was an inventor first and later became a Patent Agent.   Thus my perspective is much different from those of a people who jumped immediately from 20 years of education directly into the patent business with no practical experience or idea of what it is like to be in the shoes of the inventor.

Since 1993 I have been a Registered Agent of the US Patent and Trademark Office, and am authorized to represent inventors in all patent-related matters in the US Patent & Trademark Office.   My experiences as a private inventor, as a member of various Inventor's Associations, as a research scientist, as a member of the Patent Bar, as a contract negotiator with corporate attorneys, and as a Competitive Intelligence Professional has earned me understandings which many legal professionals will never know.    My affiliation with various inventors groups in the Great Lakes Region (strong in manufacturing) has provided me with knowledge of who to refer my clients to, when they need a source of services or info.

One of the easiest ways to save money on an invention is to engage the services of an experienced Registered Patent Agent.  This typically cuts the costs of obtaining patent protection in half.   Registered Patent Agents have a 4-year college degree in a technical discipline, and have passed the stringent bar Examination given by the U.S. Patent Office.  Accordingly, the government licenses them to represent inventors in patent-related matters. (A "Patent Attorney" has these qualifications, but additionally is required to be a member of a State Bar Association.  Being a member of a State Bar Association enables a patent attorney to represent Clients in courtroom proceedings in a State Court.  It is important to realize that to going to court is not normally required to obtain a patent on an invention.  In fact, since patent matters are federal, the state courts do not come into play in obtaining a patent for an inventor.  Everything is done before the US Patent Office.   Therefore, if one hires a Patent Attorney to help them obtain a patent, they are often enlisting (AND PAYING FOR) services they may not really need.  

Patent Attorneys can do many things which a patent agent cannot, which includes representing clients in the federal and state courts.  However, it is the norm that patent attorneys who represent clients in court do not generally do patent procurement work for clients.  This is because patent litigation is a highly specialized field, requiring great mental skills.  It is a very financially rewarding field too.   It is rare to find a patent litigator spending time writing a patent application because there is a LOT more money in litigation.  Those patent attorneys who do write patent applications generally do not do litigation work.  Therefore, the question begs itself as to why one would hire a patent attorney to write and file a patent application, when an Agent can be much more cost-effective.  I think many people are not aware of what a Patent Agent is.

Of course, there are a great many good Patent Attorneys out there, many of whom are close friends.  If you need one and you are my Client I'll be happy to refer you to one whom I would use myself.

Our PATENT SEARCHES are top notch thorough at an extremely reasonable rate.  You may see loose cannons on th internet advertising patent searches for $ 100-200.   DON'T be fooled by cheap searches - they are not worth your time or money.   There is nothing new under the sun, consider what John Ruskin (1819-1900) said:

"It is unwise to pay too much, but it is worse to pay too little. When you pay too much, you lose a little money - that is all. When you pay too little, you sometimes lose everything because the thing you bought was incapable of doing the thing it was bought to do. The common law of business balance prohibits paying a little and getting a lot - it cannot be done. If you deal with the lowest bidder, it is well to add something for the risk you run, and if you do that you will have enough to pay for something better."

I will not hesitate to sign confidentiality agreements at the request of Clients (many other service providers won't sign them - beware) and I will do whatever is necessary to make an Inventor comfortable.

Although highly professional, I tend to deal in a somewhat casual format.  I learned long ago that to succeed in satisfying Clients, one needs to be highly customer-driven.  Unlike most other intellectual property service providers, I can provide you with references.  Rather than tell you how great we are, I think it best to let our past clients do the talking for us.  Chances are there is someone near you whom we have served, as our clients are from all over the country.  If you use me as your Agent, then I would ask that you make yourself available in the future to act as a reference for me.  It is our reputation that keeps us going, and our reputation depends upon you.

Our services cover all types of inventions: machines, articles of manufacture, chemical, medical devices, construction equipment, processes, etc.  We also do design patents, patent drawings, and can help you with a referral for someone to help you with a trademark or copyright matter.   We don't get into computer software, certain chemical inventions, or biochemical inventions, but can refer you to someone for these types of subject matter.

We also do some consulting.  If you have an invention and have no idea as to what to do with it next, we are a good sounding board.   For a nominal fee we will (CONFIDENTIALLY, OF COURSE) provide our opinion on the potential of your invention or idea and inform you as to what options we perceive that you may have from both the patenting and the marketing standpoints.  Once you are aware of your options, you can make your own  decision.   Further, this fee is applicable towards our patenting services, should you elect to use them.

Please contact us for further information.  We consider it a privilege to be of service to you, and will do whatever it reasonably takes to add you to our growing list of satisfied clients.   If you can think of any way we can be of better service to you as an inventor, please let us know. Our goal is to be of the most client-driven provider of intellectual property services in the world.

Thank you for visiting.

Yours truly,                                                    EMAIL me by clicking here

Christopher J. Whewell
Registered Patent Agent
                                                        (888) 301-6774 (TOLL-FREE)

Background info on us.
Common Questions about patents and patent searches.
What to expect in Patent Fees.
Contact us.
Printed Materials offered.