US/UK Patents for innovative streaming service

The overall cost and time investment is also in direct correlation to the novelty of your invention. The more break-through it is, the less money and time you'll spend on the patent prosecution. It can really make a big difference in projected costs.

Another option is a PCT application. This is probably the best option for international protection. Although it is more expensive than a national application, it will grant you initial protection in up to 148 countries. However, you will need to file for specific country/region protection no later than 30 months after the earliest filing date of your initial application. (Alternatively, you could file in the UK and then wait 12 months and file a PCT application, giving you 18 months to decide what other countries you want to file in.)

A single patent application filed with a patent office (of a country or for a region) serves as starting point (priority founding application). Based on this patent application, other countries or regions can be pursued within one year from this inital filing (filing a PCT application, buying time for money, is only one of many options).
However, once a patent application (i.e. the priority-founding application for your Invention) has been filed, you can't add additional Information into the application.

Thus, it is essential - in particular with regard to software-related inventions - that a specialist prepares a good (i.e. detailed) patent application.

The stated numbers for drafting a priority-founding application in this technical field are realastic. It doesn#t pay to take shortcuts. Decisions on subsequent filings can be based on findings from the Initial filing, and costs can be deferred up to one year or longer, or avoided altogether. The most fitting strategy for you depends on your particular circumstances. Find a patent attorney who satifies you.

BTW, we work in the field and directly represent before patent Offices in the UK, the US, Europe and Germany.

Steve's answer is correct.

Your basic costs are going to go toward the preparation of a really good patent application - costs will vary from country to country, law firm to law firm, but the cost of a really good patent application can probably be in the neighborhood of, or at least, $5000-$10,000 (7500GBP-15000GBP). Filing fees for the USPTO or the GBPO are fixed - currently in the US, a filing fee for a small entity is approximately $800, 1/2 that for a micro-entity, twice that for a large entity. Then of course you will need to account for several thousands of dollars for the actual prosecution which comprises your attorneys responding to outstanding office action(s) from the Patent Office and negotiating with the examiner until agreement is reached for allowance and issuance of your patent.