[GUARANTEE]Our refund promise
The RLG Guarantee
We don't just stand behind our work, we guarantee it. On four services, if the search or the USPTO says no, you get your fee back.*
Covered*
- Patentability search
- Provisional patents
- Design patents
- Trademarks
Not covered
- Utility (non-provisional) patents
- IP litigation
[01]Coverage
Four services are covered. The rest are not.
The guarantee applies only to the services marked covered below. Every other service is still a flat fee, quoted before any work begins, without the refund promise.
| Service | The RLG Guarantee | If the answer is no | The flat fee includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patentability search | Covered* | If the search finds your invention is not novel, a full refund or another search, your choice. |
|
| Provisional patents | Covered* | Patentability issues, a full refund or more searches, your choice. |
|
| Design patents | Covered* | If the USPTO denies your design patent application, a full refund. Registrability issues, a full refund or more searches, your choice. |
|
| Trademarks | Covered* | If the USPTO denies your trademark application, a full refund. Registrability issues, a full refund or more searches, your choice. |
|
| Utility (non-provisional) patents | Not covered | Not covered. Quoted as a flat fee before any work begins. | Quoted flat before work begins |
| IP litigation | Not covered | Not covered. Patent, trademark and trade secret disputes are quoted on their own terms. | Quoted flat before work begins |
*Refunds subject to the RLG Guarantee Policy in your engagement letter. The guarantee is a refund promise, not a promise of a granted patent, a registration or any legal outcome. Other services, including office actions on utility applications, international filings and startup legal work, are not covered by the guarantee.
[02]How it works
How a refund works.
The guarantee is written into your engagement letter before any work begins, so you know the terms from day one.
- 01
Your engagement letter sets the terms.
It names the service, the flat fee and the RLG Guarantee Policy that applies to that matter.
- 02
We do the work.
The search, the drafting and the filing, with your review and approval before anything is filed.
- 03
The answer comes back.
From the patentability search, or from the USPTO on a covered application.
- 04
If it is no, you choose.
A full refund or, where the policy allows, another search. The policy in your engagement letter governs every refund.
[03]What it means
A refund promise, not a promised result.
No attorney can promise that the USPTO will grant a patent or register a trademark, and we do not. What we can promise is what happens to your fee if the answer is no on a covered service.
Hourly billing makes the true cost of protecting an idea hard to see in advance. A flat fee tells you the price before you commit. The guarantee tells you what happens if the answer is no. Prices for each service are on the patents page.
[04]Questions
Questions about the guarantee.
Anything else, ask on your free strategy call.
Book A Free Strategy CallWhat does The RLG Guarantee cover?
Four services. Patentability searches, provisional patents, design patents and trademarks. If a covered search finds your invention is not novel, or patentability issues come up on a provisional, you get a full refund or another search. If the USPTO denies a covered design patent or trademark application, you get a full refund.
Does the guarantee mean my patent or trademark will be granted?
No. Nobody can promise a USPTO decision. The guarantee is a refund promise on the fee for a covered service, not a promise of a granted patent, a registration or any other legal outcome.
Which services are not covered?
Utility (non-provisional) patent applications, office actions on them, international filings, IP litigation and startup legal services. They are still flat fees, quoted before any work begins.
Where are the full terms?
In the RLG Guarantee Policy in the engagement letter for your matter. Every refund is subject to that policy, so read it before you sign and ask your attorney about anything that is unclear.
How do I ask for a refund?
Talk to your attorney. They will walk you through the steps and the conditions set out in the RLG Guarantee Policy in your engagement letter.
[05]Client reviews
Clients on the flat fee.
4.7 across 614 public reviews on Google, Trustpilot and Avvo.
#1Top reviewed IP law firm*
Read client reviews“The Rapacke Group stands by their fees with no surprises.”
Lowell CrawfordClient review “It gave us peace of mind knowing the total cost for this service was included in their flat-fee proposal.”
Nick P.Provisional patent · Client review “Could not be happier with the customer service and straightforward fixed-fee approach.”
Sammerjit RaikhyDesign patent · Client review
Reviews reflect individual client experiences. Quotes are excerpts. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. *#1 top reviewed means the most public client reviews on Google, Trustpilot and Avvo of any US patent or trademark firm.
Start with a covered service.
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