If by "register a patent" you mean "have a patent issued", the costs vary widely. Elements of the cost include: #complexity of the invention #what type of invention it is #how broad or narrow is the field of invention #whether the field is crowded or you're a pioneer #number of countries where protection is desired #how many rejections are received during handling #other procedural nightmares (interferences, etc) #how many patents you get issued from one application #how long you intend to enforce them One of the more expensive things is drafting the application, and it must be done carefully and professionally.
Richard Saxton
Unknown. I've never seen a patent for sale.
No, they do not have a patent. They have a trade secret. Much like KFC there are very few people who know it.
$5000 to $20000 http://www.uipatent.com/
About £200
too much......
There's really no way of telling. If the product is popular and successful, the value of the patent will reflect that.
It depends upon what the invention is and whether you're making a patent or buying one that has already been granted and in which countries.
If the inventor will be the patent owner (rather than a company the inventor is working for), the fees are 1/4 what they are for companies. The complete US patent fee schedule is linked below.
Up to 500 USD
A patent is a grant from a patent office, such as the United States Patent Office. "Patent Pending" is a phrase that an application for a patent has been filed and is in some stage in the process of obtaining a patent. Thus, a patent can be presently enforced while a patent that is merely pending is unenforceable but can mature into a patent that can be enforced. Once the pending patent matures, the patent owner can sue for back damages or reasonable royalties starting from the filing date of the patent.
It would be smart to get a provisional patent first. They are inexpensive and can be useful for two reasons. Reason number one, they are a patent an will protect your idea. Reason number two, it is much faster to acquire a provisional patent than it is to apply for a registered patent.