§Resources
Free patent resources, built the way we would want them
The tools and references we would want open if we were in your seat: a maintenance-fee calculator, a plain-English glossary, straight answers to common questions, and articles that cite their sources.
§ 01Context
Start with the record, not a sales pitch
These patent resources are free, and none of them sits behind a form. This site has no sign-ups, no accounts, and no tracking, so nothing you do here follows you around. Our privacy policy says exactly what we do and don’t collect.
Each resource is general information, not legal advice. Where a topic touches a legal question, such as patentability, validity, infringement, or freedom to operate, we say who can answer it: a registered patent attorney or agent. Our scope and disclosures page explains where our work stops and theirs begins.
Facts come with sources. Fee figures link to the USPTO fee schedule, statutes link to their text, and every article lists its sources. If you find something out of date, tell us at support@metadragons.com and we will fix it.
§ 02Overview
Five places to start
Pick the tool that matches your question. Each one links onward to the services behind it, if you need more than a reference.
Maintenance-Fee Calculator
Enter a grant date and entity size to see the three USPTO payment windows, the due dates, the grace-period ends, and the fees with surcharge.
Tool12Patent Glossary
More than 100 terms in plain English, from prior art and kind codes to FRAND and relief-from-royalty, sorted into seven categories.
Reference14FAQ
Straight answers to common questions about our scope, searches, Hoard, drawings, valuation, brokerage, and how engagements work.
Answers16Insights
Articles on search costs, maintenance fees, selling a patent, design drawings, standards, and patent data, each with its sources listed.
Articles18Engagement Profiles
Four illustrative composites that show how decisions get made, from an inventor’s early no to a device maker’s pruning review.
CompositesA free tool should leave you better informed, not more sold to.
No forms, no sign-up, and no follow-up calls you didn’t ask for.
§ 03Insights
Recent articles
Practical, sourced articles on search, valuation and deals, drawings, patent data, and protecting inventors from bad actors.
Patent Monitoring Without Alert Fatigue: How to Design a Watch People Actually Read
Most patent watches fail from noise, not from missed documents. Here is how to choose signals, tier alerts, measure usefulness and pick the right tools.
Standard Essential Patents Explained: Declarations, FRAND, Pools and What Changed in 2026
A declared SEP is the owner's claim, not a verdict. Here is how declarations, FRAND and patent pools work, what changed in Wi-Fi and video codecs in 2026, and what SEP data can tell you.
Generative AI Patent Trends 2026: What the Filing Data Shows, and What It Doesn't
Published GenAI patent families doubled in a year. Here is what WIPO and IFI Claims data show, what they can't show, and five checks to run on any AI patent chart.
§ 04Questions
About these resources
Something else on your mind? Call (505) 357-5188 or write to info@metadragons.com.
Are these resources legal advice?
No. They are general information. For a legal question, talk to a registered patent attorney or agent. If you don’t have one, we can share a list of independent practitioners to contact. We receive no referral fees.
How current are the fee figures?
The calculator and fee table use the USPTO fee schedule effective January 19, 2025, last verified on November 1, 2026. USPTO fees change, so always confirm on the USPTO fee schedule before you pay.
Do I need to give you my e-mail to use them?
No. Nothing here sits behind a form, and the site sets no tracking cookies. You only share your details with us if you choose to e-mail or call.
Can I suggest a glossary term or a question for the FAQ?
Yes. E-mail support@metadragons.com with the term or question. If it is useful to others, we will add it with a plain-English answer and a source.
Keep reading
Related pages
§Next step
Need more than a reference?
When a question needs research rather than a definition, start with a free 20–30-minute scoping call. You’ll get a fixed-fee written quote within one business day.