Term of a Patent
- There are three patent types: design, utility, and patent. Utility patents protect manufactured articles. Fabric designs are protected by design patents. Plant patents protect new plant varieties that reproduce asexually.
- These provide 20 years of protection from the patent's application date.
- These provide 14 years of protection from the patent issue date.
- These provide 20 years of protection from the patent's application date.
- Utility and design patents require maintenance fees during the fourth, eighth, and 12th years of patent protection.
Patent Types
Utility Patents
Design Patents
Plant Patents
Maintenance Fees
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