Questions founders ask.
Short answers. For anything specific to your invention, book a free call with your attorney.
Is this a real law firm?
Yes. Legal services are provided by F. Chau & Associates, LLC (Chau IP Law), a New York intellectual property firm. Michael Carey, a registered patent attorney and partner there, is the attorney of record. The platform, Patent AI and this website are provided by MSL Group LLC, a separate technology company. Lang Mei, its technology cofounder, is not a lawyer.
Who is my attorney?
Michael Carey, partner at F. Chau & Associates, the New York firm ranked No. 1 for consumer electronics patent portfolios, with 250+ AI patent matters in the last two years. He is named in your engagement letter and reviews and signs every filing. You can message him directly from your matter.
What does "allowed" mean?
At least one independent claim covering the core invention described in your engagement letter. A trivially narrow claim does not count.
What if the patent is rejected?
Rejections are normal in software and AI. Your plan includes up to 3 office action responses, 2 examiner interviews and 1 RCE. On Protected and Guaranteed, if no claim is allowed within scope, you get a free refile first, then a refund of professional fees.
Are government fees included?
No. USPTO fees are billed at cost, about $2,070 to grant for a typical small entity case. Foreign agent and translation fees are also at cost.
Can I pay over time?
Yes. Three milestones: at start, at nonprovisional filing, and at the first office action response. Payments are held in trust until earned.
Is Patent AI legal advice?
No. Patent AI gives software output: a structured record, prior art signals and a readiness summary. It never says whether something is patentable or whether to file. Your attorney does that, after you engage the firm.
Is my invention data confidential?
Yes. It is encrypted, isolated per company, never used to train models, and exportable. Communications with your attorney after engagement are privileged. See Security.
Can you file outside the US?
Yes, through PCT and national phase coordination with foreign associates. Our PCT service is $4,500 plus $1,000 per country, with government and foreign fees at cost.
What can’t you file?
Biotech, chemistry, pharma and diagnostics. We refer those out. Our focus is AI and software, plus electrical, hardware, robotics, sensors, optics and physics.
How fast can you file?
Provisional within 3 business days and nonprovisional within 14 days of a complete invention record, or that filing is free. Track One is available as an add on for a decision in about 12 months.
Do I need a patent before I raise?
That is a legal and business question for your attorney, not for this page. Many founders file a provisional before a fundraise or a public launch. Book a free call.
Is examiner data a prediction?
No. It is public USPTO history for an art unit or examiner: how often they allow, how many office actions it usually takes, whether interviews help. It describes the past, not your outcome, and it is not legal advice. Your attorney decides the strategy.
Who owns my invention memory?
You do. It lives inside your engagement with the firm, is never used for another client, and you can export or delete it from Settings. It is off until you turn it on.