# Computer hardware patent attorneys for systems teams

> Flat-fee computer hardware patent attorney services for device and systems teams. Start with a $999 patentability search, refunded if it isn't patentable.

Page: https://arapackelaw.com/industries/computer-hardware/  
Title: Computer Hardware Patent Attorney | Rapacke Law Group  
Breadcrumb: [Home](https://arapackelaw.com/) / [Industries](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/) / [Computer hardware](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/computer-hardware/)

We protect the architecture, the firmware that runs it and the product name, filed before the launch or the teardown. One flat fee for each step.

- $999 patentability search
- No hourly billing
- Registered patent attorneys

## For the people who build computer hardware.

From a first working board to a company shipping its next product line, the work starts the same way. Find out what is new, then protect it before it goes to a manufacturer, a test lab or a customer.

- **Computer and server makers** Systems, storage and data center hardware, protected before the first pilot or investor meeting.
- **Peripheral and accessory makers** Keyboards, docks, input devices and accessories, from how they work to how they look.
- **Embedded and firmware teams** Boards and the firmware that ties the components together, claimed as the system and what it does.
- **Networking and data center teams** Networking gear, cooling and the hardware that keeps racks running, protected as each version ships.

## Four things worth protecting in computer hardware.

Most hardware products carry more than one kind of protection. A patent on how it works, a design patent on how it looks and a trademark on its name each stop a different kind of copy.

### The architecture and how it works (utility patent)

How the components connect, move data and stay cool. Claims are written around what your design does better than what ships today, such as faster transfers, lower power or a smaller footprint.

- Memory and storage systems
- Interconnects and networking hardware
- Cooling and thermal management
- Board and circuit designs

### Firmware and the hardware it runs (utility patent)

The firmware or control method that makes the hardware work better, claimed as a system and as the method it performs, tied to a technical result rather than an abstract idea.

- Firmware and controllers
- Power and thermal management
- Secure boot and device security

### The look of the product (design patent)

The ornamental design of a case, a chassis, a peripheral or an on-screen interface, protected for 15 years from grant.

- Cases and chassis
- Peripherals and accessories
- On-device screens and icons

Covered by The RLG Guarantee (USPTO denies it, full refund).

### The product and company name (trademark)

Clear and file the name before it goes on datasheets, packaging and the product itself, so the name you build a reputation on is one you can keep.

- Product line names
- Company names
- Logos

Covered by The RLG Guarantee (Approved, or your money back).

**Teardowns favor patents.** Once a product ships, anyone can open the case and study the board. What a teardown reveals is better patented. A manufacturing process, test settings or firmware source no one can see may be worth more as a trade secret. Your attorney tells you which on your first call.

## Search, provisional, utility. Flat fees at every step.

Every step is quoted before any work begins, and the search fee is credited toward a design or non-provisional application. Most hardware founders file a provisional before certification testing, a contract manufacturer or a launch, then the full application within 12 months.

### Start here, Patentability search

**$999** flat fee. Patentable or your money back. Credited toward a design or non-provisional application. Report in about 5 days.

- An invention discovery call with your attorney
- A search of US and foreign patents and published applications
- A written patentability report and a review call

Covered by [The RLG Guarantee](https://arapackelaw.com/rlg-guarantee/) (Not patentable, full refund).

### Then, Provisional patent

**$2,500 to $3,500** flat fee. . Patent pending the day it is filed.

- A strategy call to capture how the hardware works
- Schematics and block diagrams included
- You review and approve it before filing

Covered by [The RLG Guarantee](https://arapackelaw.com/rlg-guarantee/) (Patentability issues, full refund).

### Within 12 months, Non-provisional patent

**$7,000 to $12,000** flat fee. Drawings and USPTO filing fees included. Filed before your 12-month deadline.

- System and method claims written for examination
- Formal drawings and USPTO filing fees
- Complex systems quoted flat on your call

Flat fee, not covered by the guarantee.

### Alongside the patent

- **Design patent, $3,200.** For the case, chassis or screen, office actions included. Covered by The RLG Guarantee.
- **Trademark, $2,000.** For the product name, USPTO fee for one class included. Covered by The RLG Guarantee.

## Standards, testing and launch. Plan them together.

A patent decides who can make and sell the hardware. Standards work, certification testing and launch decide when others first see it, and what you have promised to license. The timing of each shapes the others.

### Patent, who can make and sell it

1. **Search** ($999). What is already out there?
2. **Provisional** (File first). Patent pending, schematics included
3. **Full application** (Month 12). Within 12 months
4. **Examination** (USPTO). The USPTO reviews the claims
5. **Granted**. Rights you can enforce

### Product, when others see it

1. **Prototype** (Use an NDA). Boards, firmware and enclosures
2. **Manufacturer** (Use an NDA). Quotes, samples and tooling
3. **Certification** (Records go public). FCC and safety testing
4. **Launch** (Disclosure risk). Reviews and teardowns
5. **Production**. Sales and new versions

**File before the teardown.** Once a product ships, anyone can open it. An FCC equipment authorization is published when it is granted, often with photos of the device, and a trade show, a datasheet or a review unit can make the invention public too. File at least a provisional first.

- **Standards come with licensing promises.** Contributing to a standard can mean promising to license the patents it needs. IEEE, for example, asks patent holders for a letter of assurance to license on reasonable terms, free of unfair discrimination. Read the patent policy before your engineers contribute. [How patent licensing agreements work](https://arapackelaw.com/patents/patent-licensing-agreement/)
- **Copies made abroad can be stopped at the border.** When infringing hardware is made overseas, the US International Trade Commission can order it excluded from entry under Section 337. A granted patent is what makes that possible. [Dealing with overseas infringement](https://arapackelaw.com/litigation/how-to-deal-with-overseas-infringement-issues/)
- **Claim the system and the method.** When firmware runs the hardware, claim both the system and the method it performs, tied to a technical result such as faster transfers or lower power. A competitor then has to avoid both. [How to write patent claims](https://arapackelaw.com/patents/how-to-write-claims/)

*General information, not legal, export control or regulatory advice. Certification and export rules depend on the product and where it is sold.*

## Services for computer hardware companies.

One firm for the patent, the brand and the agreements around them.

- [Utility patents](https://arapackelaw.com/patents/utility-patents/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/patents/utility-patents.md). Protect how the hardware works.
- [Provisional patents](https://arapackelaw.com/patents/provisional-patents/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/patents/provisional-patents.md). Patent pending while you build and test. Covered by The RLG Guarantee.
- [Design patents](https://arapackelaw.com/patents/design-patents/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/patents/design-patents.md). Protect how the product looks. Covered by The RLG Guarantee.
- [Trademarks](https://arapackelaw.com/trademarks/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/trademarks.md). Register the product and company name. Covered by The RLG Guarantee.
- [Software patents](https://arapackelaw.com/patents/software-mobile-app-patent/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/patents/software-mobile-app-patent.md). Protect the firmware and control methods.
- [Non-disclosure agreements](https://arapackelaw.com/non-disclosure-agreements-ndas/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/non-disclosure-agreements-ndas.md). Share with manufacturers on your terms.
- [Contracts and agreements](https://arapackelaw.com/contracts-agreements/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/contracts-agreements.md). Supplier and manufacturing agreements.
- [Technology transfer agreements](https://arapackelaw.com/technology-transfer-agreements/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/technology-transfer-agreements.md). Move technology between partners.

## Before you file.

### Can computer hardware be patented?

Yes. New architectures, storage and memory systems, interconnects, cooling designs and the methods that run them can be patented when they are new and not obvious. Computer hardware is a crowded field, so the claims have to focus on what your design does that earlier ones do not, which is why the work starts with a search.

### How do you patent hardware that runs firmware?

Claim both sides. A system claim covers the hardware and what its processor or controller is set up to do, and a method claim covers the steps it performs. Tying the claims to a technical result, such as faster transfers or less power used, helps show the invention is more than an abstract idea.

### Can copyright protect computer hardware?

Only in part. Copyright covers firmware and software code, manuals and on-screen graphics. It does not cover how the hardware works, and it covers the shape of a functional product only in narrow cases. How it works calls for a utility patent, and how it looks calls for a design patent.

### Do export rules apply to computer hardware?

Some, yes. Certain computers, networking gear and hardware that uses encryption are controlled for export under the Export Administration Regulations. Check how the product is classified before you ship it abroad or share its technical data with foreign partners.

### What is the difference between a patent agent and a patent attorney?

Both are registered with the USPTO to prepare and file patent applications. A patent attorney is also a licensed lawyer, so the same person can advise on the agreements, licensing and disputes around the patent. Our applications are drafted by registered patent attorneys.

### How much does a computer hardware patent cost with your firm?

Flat fees at every step. A $999 patentability search, a provisional application at $2,500 to $3,500 depending on the invention, and a non-provisional application at $7,000 to $12,000 with drawings and USPTO filing fees included. A design patent is $3,200. Every fee is quoted before work begins, and the search fee is credited toward a design or non-provisional application.

### What does The RLG Guarantee cover for computer hardware?

The patentability search, the provisional application, design patents and trademarks. If the search finds your invention is not novel, you get a full refund or another search. If patentability issues come up on your provisional, a full refund or more searches. If the USPTO denies your design application, you get a full refund. If it refuses your trademark, you get a refund or a new mark. Non-provisional applications are not covered. Refunds are subject to the RLG Guarantee Policy in your engagement letter.

## Your attorneys

- [Andrew Rapacke](https://arapackelaw.com/learn-more/the-team/andrew-rapacke/), Managing Partner, Registered Patent Attorney. Former Naval Engineering Officer. M.S. in electrical and electronics engineering.
- [Ken Brooks](https://arapackelaw.com/team/ken-brooks/), Registered Patent Attorney. Materials science and engineering. Patents in software, AI, and electrical and mechanical systems.

Meet the team at https://arapackelaw.com/learn-more/the-team/

## Go deeper before you file.

- [How to Write Patent Claims That Actually Protect Your Invention](https://arapackelaw.com/patents/how-to-write-claims/)
- [Design Patent vs Utility Patent: Shield Your Product Design with the Right Legal Protection](https://arapackelaw.com/patents/design-patent-vs-utility-patent/)
- [Using Design Patents to Protect Graphical User Interfaces](https://arapackelaw.com/patents/using-design-patents-to-protect-graphical-user-interfaces/)
- [Why Every Innovator Needs a Patent Non Disclosure Agreement Before Sharing Ideas](https://arapackelaw.com/intellectual-property/patent-non-disclosure-agreement/)
- [5 Examples of Trade Secrets and How They Fit into Your Intellectual Property Strategy](https://arapackelaw.com/intellectual-property/examples-of-trade-secrets/)
- [What Is a Patent Licensing Agreement? Key Terms and Why They Matter](https://arapackelaw.com/patents/patent-licensing-agreement/)

[All articles](https://arapackelaw.com/learning-center/)

## Other industries

- [3D printing](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/3d-printing/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/3d-printing.md). Printers, processes, materials and the products they make.
- [Aerospace](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/aerospace/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/aerospace.md). Aircraft, drones and spacecraft, protected before the first public flight.
- [AI and machine learning](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/ai-machine-learning/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/ai-machine-learning.md). Models, training methods and the AI features inside your product.
- [Autonomous vehicles](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/autonomous-vehicles/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/autonomous-vehicles.md). Sensing, navigation and control systems for vehicles that drive themselves.
- [Blockchain](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/blockchain/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/blockchain.md). Protocols, wallets and the technical methods behind decentralized products.
- [Consumer electronics](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/consumer-electronics/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/consumer-electronics.md). Devices people carry and use every day, from how they work to how they look.
- [Consumer products](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/consumer-products/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/consumer-products.md). Everyday products and the brands on them, protected before launch.
- [Cybersecurity](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/cybersecurity/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/cybersecurity.md). Security software and hardware, and what to patent or keep secret.
- [Defense](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/defense/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/defense.md). Defense technology, planned around contracts and export rules.
- [Digital health](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/digital-health/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/digital-health.md). Telehealth, remote monitoring and health apps, built around patient data.
- [E-commerce](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/ecommerce/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/ecommerce.md). Online brands and Amazon sellers, from the trademark to the product itself.
- [Electrical hardware](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/electrical/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/electrical.md). Power electronics, controls, sensors, batteries and motors, from circuit to system.
- [Energy and clean tech](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/energy/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/energy.md). Batteries, solar, storage, charging and the grid, from the cell to the system.
- [Fintech](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/fintech/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/fintech.md). Payments, lending and trading technology, claimed as technical improvements.
- [Gaming](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/gaming/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/gaming.md). Game engines, mechanics, controllers and titles, protected before the reveal.
- [Medical devices](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/medical-devices/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/medical-devices.md). Devices, diagnostics and software as a medical device, timed with the FDA.
- [Robotics](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/robotics/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/robotics.md). Robots, grippers and the software that moves them, protected before the pilot.
- [Semiconductors](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/semiconductors/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/semiconductors.md). Chip design, fabrication processes and packaging.
- [Software and SaaS](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/software-saas/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/software-saas.md). The methods your platform performs, protected however the code is written.
- [Sporting goods](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/sporting-goods/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/sporting-goods.md). Equipment and gear, from how it performs to the design customers recognize.

## Next steps

- [Book a free strategy call](https://arapackelaw.com/contact-us/) with a registered patent attorney, or call (954) 951-0154
- [Take the Intelligent IP Quiz](https://arapackelaw.com/intelligent-ip-quiz/) to see what to protect first
- [The RLG Guarantee](https://arapackelaw.com/rlg-guarantee/), the refund promise on four services

General information, not legal advice.