Evatec is a Swiss technology company specializing in advanced equipment for thin film production. Until recently, all of their IP tasks, including IP renewals, were handled externally by an IP law firm. When Berthold Mantel joined the company as the first in-house patent attorney, he began building systems to modernize their IP management.

Manual IP renewals with no cost clarity

Evatec’s law firm coordinated IP renewals through a third-party payment provider, with instructions managed via email. Although the law firm took full responsibility for the process, there were notable downsides, including:

  • High costs: The law firm used an expensive provider and added their own service fees.
  • Lack of transparency: IP renewal communications (including invoices) were limited to email with no clear breakdown of fees.‍
  • Manual portfolio overviews: Information had to be manually requested.

“My first motivation to look for a new possibility or opportunity was the price. It was very expensive. They (the law firm) used an expensive provider, and for their service, they added their own service fees. And everything was over just by email communication. When we needed the information about the portfolio, we asked the law firm, and we got an Excel table, so it was kind of a manual thing.”

Transparent IP renewal pricing made the difference

While high service fees initially motivated them to explore new options, the real differentiator turned out to be transparency, something most IP renewal providers struggle to offer.

During the comparison process, they reached out to multiple providers and asked each to provide a quote based on Evatec’s full IP portfolio. 

While service fees varied, what stood out most was the lack of visibility around pricing structures, particularly in how other providers still hide their fees under different cost categories, making their pricing not transparent. 

What differentiated PatentRenewal.com:

  •  Transparency-first mindset: PatentRenewal.com offered full clarity on all patent renewal-related cost categories like official fees, service fees, local agent fees (if any), transaction and exchange rate fees (if any).‍
  • Dedicated and responsive support: They felt supported even before the transition, with quick replies and consistent communication from their point of contact in our team.

“I saw quite some difference between the transparency of most of the providers. And this was actually the main reason which drew me to PatentRenewal.com. Because PatentRenewal.com is, as far as I could see, the provider who has the best transparency. Other providers hid parts of their costs under different categories.”

Effortless IP renewal setup with full accuracy

Switching to PatentRenewal.com gave Evatec the control, visibility, and cost savings that were previously missing while outsourcing IP renewals through a law firm. They achieved:

  • Greater control: They can now easily track, give instructions on renewals and update their whole IP portfolio directly in the software.
  • Improved payment setup: The platform provides easy access to monitor deadlines, overview invoices and follow IP renewal payments real-time.
"Now I can monitor all the steps from having the data in your system to receiving your offers, invoices, and payments to the patent offices.
  • Accurate and fast onboarding: Evatec appreciated the smooth onboarding experience and praised the responsiveness of the customer success team. 
"There were zero mistakes, and I got a quick answer to all my question.”
  • Cost-efficiency: Evatec now pays significantly less in service fees, saving above 50%.

“PatentRenewal.com is the provider with the best transparency and the lowest cost.”

Smarter IP renewals with PatentRenewal.com

Evatec’s move to PatentRenewal.com demonstrates how transparency, control, and simplicity can drive lasting improvements in IP renewal management.

Ready to simplify your IP renewals and cut hidden costs? Get a free price comparison here.