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Questions tagged [patent-lifetime]

The term of a patent: the amount of time during which a patent can be enforced.

The term of a patent is the time period during which it can be enforced. After a patent expires, the invention is no longer protected by this patent.

The exact term of a patent depends on the jurisdiction and can be subject to special cases. In most countries including the United States, the term of a utility patent is now 20 years from the filing date in most cases. For US patents filed before 1995, the term is up to 17 years after the application date. Design patents have a shorter term (14 years from issue in the US).

A patent can expire before its maximum term if the maintenance fees are not paid.

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How long are patents valid?

As an independent software programmer it is very tricky and time consuming to understand these patents. I would say it is impossible for me. Do software patents have a lifetime? If they do, it would mean, that in a few years we do not have to care…
user61664
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How do I re-patent a product similar to one that's had its patent expire?

In reference to the patent: US5809590 It appears as though this patent is expired, and I wish to re-patent a similar product. How do I go about doing this?
D Haltom
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Timelines for patenting

I would like to know about timelines for patents. How long does it take to patent a product and how do I start the process? At what stage of the patenting process can I start showing my product without the risk of someone copying it? How many…
Escachator
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Why do patent protections last 20 years?

This is really two questions. What is the historical reason for patent protection to be 20 years? What is the reasoning for it to be 20 years, instead of 15 years, or 25 years?
J Li
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What is a look back period

For a patent I am looking at, I see it expired on May 2, 2012, but that the owner can continue to "assert the patent after it expires with a look back period of six years" What does this mean?
Rory Alsop
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Is US2463439 still active?

Sandwich Grill I want to know if the patent of this product is still active, or is it available? US2463439
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William A Clark extended expansive bit patents

William A. Clark had patents 20,192 (May 11, 1858), 21,597 (Sept, 28, 1858). He ran his factory from then to the civil war (1861 to 1865). After the war he restarted the factory and his bits are marked "PAT'D MAY 11, 1858 - Pat EXT'D". Did he get a…
Eric
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Bacteria was used treat cancers at one time. Did the manufacturer, Parke Davis, ever patent these cancer treatments called Coley's Toxins?

A Commotion in the Blood. By Stephen S. Hall. Page 117 "a further discouragement in terms of the toxins is that without patent protection on a hundred year old treatment, there is little incentive for a drug company to invest upward of $200…
Douglas Atkins
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Why is there so much confusion about the expiry of this patent?

I am referring to this patent for a locking mechanism for a folding knife. This Reddit discussion seems to imply that there is some confusion about whether the patent has expired or not. Why are so many people unsure about this? Is it possible…
888
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understanding timeline of new elements to be filed in NP

I have a patent application filed for a provisional somewhere last year, say, on March 01 2016. This provisional application had an element A which when placed on one area of element B resulted in result C. This year, before the end of 12 months,…
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Original Patent document

In reference to the patent: US925691 Dear Sirs, The gentleman referenced as the inventor, and holder of this patent, is my Great Grandfather - Glyndon Abraham Freer. I have a copy of the original patent provided to him by the U.S. Patent office. …
Robert Freer
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Is this Patent still in effect?

Is this patent still in effect? Is it expired? In reference to the patent: US1119732
Daniel
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Patent US 5803317

In reference to the patent: US5803317 When does this patent expire?
user13322
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expiring date of the US 6905424 B2

When does US Patent 6,905,424 expire?
Peter
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