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How long is a patent valid? Utility patents and plant patents have a term for up to 20 years from the date when the patent application was first filed. The term may be a stretch to 21 years if you first file a provisional patent application, followed within one year by the regular nonprovisional patent application. In order to keep the patent alive, you must pay so-called maintenance fees. They are due every four years, hree and a half, seven and a half and eleven and a half years from when the patent first issues. Design patents are granted for a term of 15 years, starting from the date of grant. You will not need to pay maintenance fees for a design patent. To learn more, you should talk to an experienced patent attorney.