Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Detailed answers regarding Kickstarter patent protection, option acquisition, and service processes

Q: What payment methods are available?

A: We offer the following three payment methods:

  1. 1.Western Union Bank:
    If pay from Western Union Bank: First name:YU, Last name:ZHOU.
  2. 2.credit card:
    we can creat a Ali payment link for you if you want arrange payment by Alipay( it can pay by your credit card)
  3. 3.Bank details:
    BENEFICIARY'S BANK: INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL BANK OF CHINA ZHE JIANG BRANCH
    BENEFICIARY: Taizhou Bonai Technology Co., Ltd.
    USD ACCOUNT: 1207021219200760585
    SWIFT CODE: ICBKCNBJZJP
    ADDRESS:  NO.609 SHIFU ROAD,TAIZHOU ZHEJIANG CHINA

Q: Why does Bonai Technology apply for the invention patent and PCT, rather than foreigners applying directly?

A: This is the core advantage of our service:

  1. Cost difference: With Bonai Technology as the applicant, the cost of PCT application is significantly reduced; foreign applicants cannot enjoy any reductions.
  2. Legal structure: Bonai Technology initially holds the patent application right, and the foreigner obtains an exclusive purchase option. After successful crowdfunding/financing, it is transferred legally. The entire process is legal and compliant.

Q: What does "Exclusive Purchase Option" mean? How are my rights guaranteed?

A: The "Exclusive Purchase Option (Option)" is the core of our business model. The specific terms are as follows:

  1. Option grant: Bonai Technology irrevocably grants you the exclusive right to purchase the patent application right within 28 months.
  2. Price agreement: You can choose to buy it out at a fixed price.
  3. Unconditional transfer: After you exercise the option and make the payment, Bonai Technology must unconditionally cooperate in signing all official change documents.
  4. Waiver clause: If you do not exercise the option within 28 months, or explicitly state that you give it up, the patent completely belongs to Bonai Technology, and you will not bear any losses.

Q: If the patent application right is registered under Bonai Technology, will Kickstarter or investors recognize it when I use it for crowdfunding or fundraising?

A: Fully recognized. What investors and crowdfunding platforms value is whether you have the "legal right to exclusively obtain the patent". Your rights are reflected in:

  1. Financing display right: You have the right to display the technological achievements to potential investors or crowdfunding platforms, and present the option contract to prove your exclusive purchase rights.
  2. Commercial promotion right: You have the right to launch crowdfunding activities based on the technology in your own name.
  3. Prerequisite: To protect the novelty of the patent, you must ensure that Bonai Technology has submitted the patent application and obtained an application number before public crowdfunding (prior to this, limited targeted financing can be conducted under an NDA).

Q: When do I need to pay the buyout fee? What happens if I don't pay?

A: The buyout fee payment rules are as follows:

  1. Timing of payment: You only need to pay when the crowdfunding is successful or financing is in place, and you decide to exercise the option.
  2. Payment method: Fixed price (¥42,000).
  3. Consequences of non-payment: If you decide not to pay the buyout fee, you will not bear any losses—the delivered Phase 1-3 deliverables belong to you, and the patent application right belongs to Bonai Technology.

Q: How do you ensure my ideas are not leaked during the service process?

A: We attach great importance to the confidentiality and security of our clients' ideas, taking the following measures:

  1. NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement): Before the service begins, we will sign an NDA with you, assuming legal confidentiality obligations for the ideas, plans, and technical details you submit.
  2. Segmented protection of ideas: Before your innovative plan is made public, we will not disclose your core technical details to any third party.
  3. Data isolation: Your project information is stored independently in our internal system and will not be mixed with other clients' projects.
  4. Timing control for disclosure: Your technical plan can only be used in public (including crowdfunding pages) after obtaining your written authorization.

Q: Will your company sell my patent to other clients?

A: Absolutely not. The specific guarantees are as follows:

  1. Exclusive option mechanism: You obtain an exclusive purchase option. Before you exercise your buyout right, the patent application right is held by Bonai Technology, but Bonai Technology will not sell, transfer, or license this patent to any other clients.
  2. Contractual constraints: The NDA and option contract explicitly stipulate that Bonai Technology shall not transfer the patent application right of the same technology to a third party.
  3. Waiver clause: If you do not exercise the buyout right within 28 months, the patent completely belongs to Bonai Technology—but even so, Bonai Technology will not sell this patent to other commercial competitors, and will only decide on its own whether to continue advancing the patent layout.
  4. Trust guarantee: Our business model relies on client word-of-mouth and long-term cooperation. Leaking or repeatedly selling clients' technical ideas not only violates the contract but also damages our reputation and commercial interests.

Q: How long does it take to buy out the patent? What is the transfer process?

A: The complete transfer process is as follows:

  1. You exercise the option: Notify Bonai Technology in writing and pay the agreed transfer fee.
  2. Payment before certification: You must first transfer the fee to the Chinese account before Bonai Technology cooperates in signing the change documents.
  3. Technology export record-filing: Both parties sign the "Technology Transfer Contract" and complete the technology export contract record-filing registration with the Chinese Ministry of Commerce.
  4. WIPO applicant change: Submit form PCT/IB/306 (Request for recording of a change) to WIPO to change the applicant to you.
  5. Entering national phases: Enter the patent national phases in countries such as the US, Europe, and Japan in your own name.
  6. Total duration: The entire process is usually completed within 28 months.

Q: Can I apply for patents in the US/Europe myself after buying it out?

A: Yes. The specific process is:

  1. Bonai Technology first submits the PCT in China (enjoying the low-cost channel).
  2. Within the 28-month option period, you decide whether to exercise the buyout right.
  3. After you exercise the buyout right and complete the transfer, you take the PCT application to enter the national phases of countries such as the US, Europe, and Japan.
  4. Through PCT, you can enter 150+ countries globally. You can choose the countries you want to enter based on your crowdfunding regions.

Q: Is "Joint Ownership" possible? Why must Bonai Technology hold it solely?

A: "Joint Ownership" is strongly discouraged for the following reasons:

  1. Compliance risks: If your contract states "Joint Ownership" but actually only lists a Chinese name to save money, it constitutes concealing the true right holder, and the patent faces a huge risk of being invalidated in the future.
  2. Correct approach: Sole ownership by Bonai Technology + granting you an exclusive option. This is both legal, cost-effective, and protects your rights.

Q: Why is the option period 28 months instead of longer?

A: Because the PCT system has a strict 30-month deadline:

  1. After the PCT is submitted, procedures for entering the national phases of various countries must be completed within 30 months from the priority date.
  2. If you wait until the 3rd year to decide on the buyout, the PCT application will have already expired and become invalid.
  3. We set the option period to 28 months, leaving 2 months to handle the transfer and national phase entry procedures, ensuring you have an ample operational window.

This service is provided by Bonai Technology, focusing on providing innovative solution design and patent strategy services for global Kickstarter creators.