“A major U.S. firm usually quotes the cost of $10,000 to $15,000 to prepare and file a patent application; that patent application can be prepared for $2,500 to $3,500 in India.” (Nat. L. J. Sept. 12, 2005 at 14). The domestic charge is thus four to five times higher than the outsource charge.
If this cost differential holds for preparing leases and subleases, searching and registering trademarks, summarizing Suspicious Activity Reports, and other generally routine tasks, it presents an irresistible opportunity for law departments.