2017 Report of the Economic Survey

AIPLA Report of the Economic Survey 2017

PRIVATE FIRM, PATENT AGENT

 There were 31 private firm, patent agents responding to the survey; 45.2% held a doctorate degree and were 47 years old, on average.  The median total income for a private firm, patent agent in 2016 was $116,000 – which is lower than reported for 2014 ($124,000), but higher than that reported for 2012 ($110,000).  The average year-end cash bonus was $15,531, while the median was $5,000.  The median expected total cash income for 2017 was $117,500, 1.3% higher than the 2016 reported median gross income.  Private firm, patent agents spent 74.9% of their time on IP prosecution work. Patents took up most of the private firm agents’ IP time (89.8%).  The average number of IP lawyers and patent agents employed by the respondents’ firms at all locations was 40.7.  For 2016, responding private firm, patent agents reported preparing and filing a median of 10.0 new priority US and PCT patent applications – similar to that reported for 2014 (9.0) and the same as reported for 2012.  Median billable hours reported by private firm, patent agents for 2016 was 1,560, lower than reported for 2014 (1,700). The median average hourly billing rate for 2016 ($300) was higher than for 2014 ($285).  Private firm agents reported that hourly billing was used for 57.3% of services, and predetermined fee was used for 40.9% of services.  Private firm, patent agents reported a 2016 median dollar amount billed for legal services of $310,000. This is lower than which was reported for 2014 ($400,608) and 2012 ($338,000).

2016 GROSS INCOME (P. I-73, Q10) PATENT AGENT, PRIVATE FIRM By Number of Attorneys

1-2

11-25

26-50

51-100

Number of Attorneys

Total All

$0 $50,000 $100,000 $150,000 $200,000 $250,000 $300,000 $350,000 $400,000 $450,000 2016 Income 1st Quartile/3rd Quartile Median Mean

28