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Hopefully - and I really hope this - most of these patents are stupid stuff from the early days of graphical operating systems and are ready to expire in the ne
by zmmmmm 13y ago
Hopefully - and I really hope this - most of these patents are stupid stuff from the early days of graphical operating systems and are ready to expire in the next few years (given a 20 year lifespan for most patents).
- nickff 13y agoThis thought is a "triumph of hope over experience", (as was said of second marriages by Samuel Johnson).
- marcosdumay 13y ago> given a 20 year lifespan for most patents From what I've read, in the US a patent is valid until 20 years after it is granted, retroactive to the date that it's filled. That can be a 40 years interval, or more, if the USPTO don't do it's job well (and I know of patents that did go over 30 years).
- AnthonyMouse 13y agoThe US patent term is 20 years from filing as of June 8, 1995. Previous to that it worked as you describe, with a term of 17 years from issuance. The trouble, of course, is that we're still in that window. A patent filed in 1994 but not issued for many years thereafter may still be in effect.