Value based gouging

Right this is very obscure … be warned.

If you ever get a patent you will find that your independent claims cost you more than your dependent claims.

The independent claims are broader and hence worth more in any specific patent enforcement case.

But note that it doesn’t cost the patent office any more to process the independent claims.

How is it that a government owned monopoly like the patent office can engage in such an activity as value-based pricing?

Under the ACCC rules the patent office could be argued to be abusing its monopoly position.