The Speed Dial Screen ........................................................................................................................ 13. Working in the Speed Dial Screen ........................................................................................................ 14. Managing Your Speed Dial List ...........................................................................................................
(As of year 2005). Answer: Utility and plant patents are granted for a term which begins with the date of the grant and usually ends 20 years from the date the applications were filed. You must make the timely payment of the appropriate maintenance fees. Design patents last 14 years from the date you are granted the patent. No maintenance fees are required for design patents.
If the patent term has not expired, you will then want to check with the USPTO to see if the required maintenance fees have been paid. There are three maintenance fees due for utility patents (design patents do not have maintenance fees): 3 years, 7 years and 11 years. U.S. Patent No. 6,854,555). 2  If the competitor's product does not have a patent number directly on it, check the packaging, marketing materials and website for any patent notices. 3  After you have identified a patent number of interest, you can perform a patent number search to view the patent.