Patent cost calculator is most unique calculator to assess the fee to be paid by an inventor for filing a patent in a country. More specifically, while the current term is fifteen years, design patents granted on applications filed on or before May 13, 2015, are given a fourteen-year term. TR Turkey LV Latvia In order to initiate the European phase you must fulfil a number of requirements within 31 months of the filing date or, if priority has been claimed, the earliest priority date. Hence, a single patent filed in EPO is valid in all the designated countries. The previous application whose priority you claim may also be a European or international (PCT) application. With the Euro-PCT route, the first phase of the grant procedure (the international phase) is subject to the PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty), while the regional phase before the EPO as designated or elected Office is governed primarily by the EPC. The EPO loads legal events data as they receive it from respective patent offices. EE Estonia Copyright 2023 Gerben Perrott PLLC. At PCT national phase the document and the official fee must arrive no later than 31 months after . Calculation of Patent Term Extensions under the U.S. Patent Term Guarantee Act Following the Federal Circuit's Decision in Wyeth v. Kappos. Design patents, unlike utility . GB United Kingdom PT Portugal The European Patent Convention requires all jurisdictions to give a European patent a term of 20 years from the actual date of filing the application. Utility patents, on the other hand, currently have a term of twenty years (lasting 20 years) calculated from the earliest filing date or priority date. Contact for Patent validation cost calculator, Patent cost calculator, Online validation cost calculator. For patents regarding pharmaceuticals, food products, medical devices, or procedures, for which a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval is required, the term of these patents is usually extended to compensate for the delayed processing time. (4/4/2018).Previously updated to include change in patent term to 15 years for design applications filed on or after May 13, 2015. Fees for French and German Patent applications might differ. The EPO Cost Estimator will interrogate and check all the patent databases relevant to your application and extract the required information. Guides. The official language of patent filing in India is Hindi and English.Any patent translation required for an application is automatically detected and our patent cost calculator takes the relevant charges into account. Filed after 1992/12/31 and were granted 15 years earlier than 2001/12/11 have 20 years term. EE Estonia Filed before 1993/01/01 have 15 years term. For instance, although a patent is not enforceable unless and until it is granted, the term of a utility patent is calculated from the earliest filing date, not the issue date. Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Sweden. The official language of filing patent in Australia is English and our patent cost calculator takes a translation from other languages to English which giving an estimate of patent filing in Australia. After general market research on the internet, a US, Not yet using the term calculator, the group discussed told the journal in a 1996 interview. Your email address will not be published. It is available free of charge from the EPO website. At a late payment there is a 50% late fee. Overall, it is important to have an understanding of what type of patent application is submitted, the significance of the filing date, and knowledge of maintenance deadlines to ensure the continuation of patent rights. Calculate any term adjustment for PTO delays (PTA +). Please check if you wish to extend your European patent to the following countries after granting (there is an Extension fee for each country) Bosnia-Herzegovina . For other assistance, please see our contact us page. Benjamin Hanrahan, Esq. The first patent for the calculator was filed in 1967. DE Germany For example, US 5219846 has a filing date of 20 December 1991 and an issue date of 15 . Our costs chart (free login) shows the average expected costs of a German patent for the entire term of 20 years at a glance! If, Actual filing date is before 1995/06/08, OR PCT Priority claim date is before 1995/06/08, Term date is earliest of Grant Date plus 17 years and Filing date plus 20 years. The calculator contains prompts to enter specific information . To estimate your cost for filing a patent in South East Asia please use our South East Asia Patent Cost Calculator. LT Lithuania document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. The publication number can be found on the front page of the International or PCT publication. 8,838,949. These provisions (Title I of the PLTIA) take effect on May 13, 2015. We have redesigned the EPO website to give it a new look and feel. Design applications filed before May 13, 2015 will continue to have a 14 year term from issuance. Article63[53]Term of the European patent. When seeking patent protection in one or more EPO member states, you can choose either to follow the national procedure in each state or to take the European route, which confers protection in all the contracting states in a single procedure. NL Netherlands The calculator can be used to estimate the expiration dates of utility, plant, or design patents. Our filing offices are located in Munich, Berlin and The Hague. In response to patent owner and public inquiry, the USPTO is providing a downloadable patent term calculator as a resource to help the public estimate the expiration date of a patent. In addition, 35 U.S.C. For further details see the European Patent Guide and the Euro-PCT Guide. IS Iceland To estimate your cost for filing a patent in India please use our India Patent Cost Calculator. SM San Marino The official language of United States Patent Office is English. 156; Initially, under the 1790 Patent Act the term could not exceed 14 years. 120, 121 or 365(c); patent term adjustments and extensions under 35 U.S.C. The first patent for the calculator was filed in 1967. By checking this option, you understand that the following countries are covered by the Unitary Patent: Enter Dates Enter the filing date: *Note: If this patent is a continuing application (e.g., continuation, continuation-in-part, divisional) you should enter the earliest non-provisional filing date in the family. Claims fees: EUR 250 (fee code 015) for the 16th and each subsequent claim up to 50, and EUR 630 for the 51st and each subsequent claim. HU Hungary Cost of a European patent application The following fees are payable upon filing a European patent application. Otherwise, the term is 17 years from the grant date. You should seek legal consel before undertaking actions that may be covered by an issued U.S. Patent. pacific championship rugby. Natural Term Date (shared through SPC information). In Japan, the duration of a patent can be extended in circumstances where the invention was required to go through extensive regulatory approval before its use. Applications filed after May 28, 2000 became subject to the changes to 35 USC 154(b). We may have questions about your feedback, please provide your email address. Please contact us and help improve the Lens as a public-good for everyone. With the direct European route, the entire procedure is governed by the EPC alone. The international and European phases of a PCT application; C. Timeline for . Most of these countries require translation into native language which is efficiently calculated by our patent cost calculator while giving an estimate. Foreign priority is not considered in determining the patent term. 156. type of application(utility, design, plant); benefit claims under 35 U.S.C. The application status will be granted if it is granted in one of the designated jurisdictions. Filing observations does not make you a party to any official proceedings the EPO undertakes, and you will not be informed by the EPO about the further outcome of the patent grant proceedings. SK Slovakia Most notably, trademarks have a different process for renewals. Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Part 1 is a general overview of how to calculate patent term adjustment, without addressing the numerous factors that can affect patent term adjustment that will be examined in future articles. If the previous application was filed in an EPC contracting state, you can also designate that state in the European application. RS Serbia In your case the deadline is: Please choose a date to see the deadline. PL Poland LV Latvia Find upcoming programs related to IP policy and international affairs, Technical update to eliminate a macro overlap problem for some power users of Microsoft Excel and clarifies some instructions. Domestic priority to one or more U.S. provisional applications is not considered in the calculation of the twenty-year term. (4/2/2015). To estimate your cost for filing a patent in EPO please use our EPO Patent Cost Calculator. Submit a ticket and we'll get you an answer. DK Denmark In 1999, Congress amended 35 U.S.C. In order to determine the exact expiry date of each patent or SPC, the EPO recommends checking every national register separately. Stat 117, 119, 5) which amended the statute to provide a term that could last for 21 years by providing for a 7 year extension from and after the expiration of the first term. Please contact us directly for an accurate quote. GR Greece It . SK Slovakia The second involves substantive examination. It is important to track the maintenance fee payment schedule, as failure to timely submit a maintenance fee will result in the automatic abandonment of the patent. a request for the grant of a European patent (EPO Form 1001), any drawings referred to in the description or the claims, Filing fee: EUR 130 (for online filings fee code 001) or EUR 270 (for paper filings - fee code 001); additional fee for the 36th and each subsequent page, if applicable: EUR 16 (fee code 501). For advice in a particular case, a registered patent practitioner or attorney should be consulted. a granted patent has expired, lapsed, or has been revoked. The basic official fee is fixed but it changes on the basis of pages and claims. The official language of patent filing in EPO is English, French and German. It may include provisional and foreign filing date and is not used as the actual Earliest filing date for the term calculation. SE Sweden A patent may protect only a single inventive concept. PT Portugal Patent Term Calculator This tool calculates the basic statutory termof U.S. patents. Similarly, a continuation or a continuation-in-part application claiming the benefit of such an international application has a term of 20 years from the filing date of the parent international application. The patent may lapse earlier if the annual renewal fees are not paid or if the patent is revoked by the patentee or after opposition proceedings. Renewal fees are due for UK patents from the 2nd anniversary of the patent filing date, and every year thereafter to maintain the application. The patent is then considered by each member state designated on the application. Calculating Patent Term. Term date is 20 years from the earliest filing date for all other jurisdictions. Check trademark application status and view all documents associated with an application/registration. . To estimate your cost for filing a patent in USA please use our USA Patent Cost Calculator. Apple argues that Siva should be named a co-inventor of U.S. Patent No. IS Iceland Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, CZ Czech Republic In fact, our search showed that the term US & Worldwide Patent Search Many ideas have been patented but never made it to market. One such source is the FDA's Orange Book for Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations which includes patent expiration dates, some of which may include periods of exclusivity administered by the FDA that add onto patent term. ES Spain Unlike some other forms of intellectual property, patents cannot be renewed for an indefinite period of time. Please leave a comment or let us know your reference number (optional): How many of the drawing pages have words that require translation? For divisional applications filed in respect of any earlier application which is itself a divisional application (Rule38(4) EPC): The above fees are due within one month of filing the European patent application.Further fees are due if you decide that you wish to pursue the application after receiving the European search report. On December 18, 2012, the Patent Law Treaties Implementation Act of 2012 (PLTIA) was signed into law. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consyect etur adipiscing elit. LU Luxembourg CH/LI Switzerland/Liechtenstein FR France Using the EPO Cost Estimator is easy. The European Patent Convention requires all jurisdictions to give a European patent a term of 20 years from the actual date of filing an application for a European patent or the actual date of filing an international application under the PCT designating the EPO. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. A patent owner or the public must consider the following factors in calculating the expiration date of a patent for utility and plant applications. MC Monaco . If there are multiple continuing applications (divisional, continuing and continuation in part), take the earliest in the chain. CY Cyprus Patent cost calculator lists patent filing cost for more than 90 countries. NL Netherlands As per fee guidelines of each country, extra fee is applicable for extra claims and pages. This information is important to determine whether: EPO worldwide legal event data (INPADOC)1: EPO worldwide bibliographic data (DOCDB): United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO): 1 INPADOC legal events data is provided by the EPO for information only, and is not a substitute for the official patent register. Requests for the grant of a European patent must be filed on the form prescribed by the European Patent Office (EPO Form 1001). Visit our blog post on How to File a Patent Application for a New Product or Invention to learn more about the patent application process. SM San Marino Inventors in Japan and from foreign often requires to calculate a cost of patent along with attorney as Japan encourages technical detailed and sound patents. the earliest filed non-provisional)The PCT FilingEarliest in the chain of continuation filings (divisional, continuing,continuation in part). How to perform a patent search for a product and a product design in India? The standard term of a European patent is 20 years as from the date of filing. Please choose a date to see the deadline. That means that the opponent must state at least one ground for opposition under Article 100 EPC and indicate the facts, evidence and arguments presented in support of the ground(s). We would also be pleased to know if this calculator is meeting your needs. Calculating Patent Term Adjustment: Part 1 This article is first in a series focusing on various issues related to Patent Term Adjustment. The calculations are unaltered from the prior version. Applicant modifies some claims, names, or content in a patent application, they will be entitled to file a continuation in part application. Choosing to validate a European Patent with Unitary Effect will enable a single European patent to be enforceable in each and every EU country where . [2] The actual date of filing can be up to a year after the earliest priority date. China being the highest patent filer country globally tends to require need for a reliable source for calculating a patent filing cost. Patent Types. You can find a professional representative in the database of professional representatives. 154 was amended to provide term extension if the original patent was delayed due to secrecy orders, interferences, or appellate review periods. Patent grant procedures are highly complex, so if you are not experienced in patent matters, we strongly recommend consulting a professional representative. Trademark Attorneys Trusted For Our Experience. To estimate your cost for filing a patent in Middle East Asia please use our Middle East Asia Patent Cost Calculator. . Creating additional local copies or renaming the files will not alter the calculations. It is made up of two main stages. If the granted date is after 1984/07/12, the term is 17 years from the grant date or 20 years from the earliest filing date, whichever is earliest. In response to patent owner and public inquiry, the USPTO is providing a downloadable patent term calculator as a resource to help the public estimate the expiration date of a patent. Any patent translation required for an application is automatically detected and our patent cost calculator takes the relevant charges into account. File a patent application online with EFS-web, Single interface replacement for EFS-Web, Private PAIR and Public PAIR, Check patent application status with Patent Center and Private PAIR, Pay maintenance fees and learn more about filing fees and other payments, Resolve disputes regarding patents with PTAB. Other jurisdictions Term date is 20 years from the earliest filing date for all other jurisdictions. At a late payment there is a 50% late fee. We use cookies on our website to support technical features that enhance your user experience. RO Romania CZ Czech Republic Further inventive concepts using the same specification may be divided out into new application (divisional) which keep the filing date of the original application (the parent application). Patent Applicant Vs Inventor added that he was "surprised" and "upset" when he learned Qualcomm had filed a patent application based on his input. In your case the deadline is:
> b e The maximum term of a European patent is 20 years from its filing date. Under the calculation as it should have been carried out according to the Federal Circuit's judgment, the correct term for the extension was 756 days, this being calculated as 610 ("A" days) + 345 ("B" days) - 148 (delay caused by applicant . Patent. In Lens this is identified by kind code analysis for different jurisdiction. 154 to provide for additional patent term if the USPTO failed to meet certain statutory deadlines that guarantee prompt patent and trademark office responses and guarantee no more than a 3 year application pendency. Additional patent term may also be privately granted by an Act of Congress, and court decisions may establish patent expiration dates that are not reflected in USPTO records. All you have to do is enter the patents international publication number (in the format YYYYnnnnnn without the forward-slash /). We would like to know what you found helpful about this page. We don't share or sell your information ever. The following countries also form part of the European Patent Organisation (EPO countries): Switzerland, Croatia, Monaco, the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia, Norway, Turkey, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro. Rules of Procedure of the Enlarged Board of Appeal, Rules of Procedure of the Boards of Appeal, Protocol on the Interpretation of Article 69 EPC, Act revising the European Patent Convention (Revision Act 2000), Transitional provisions / AC decisions under Art. FR France If you do not have either a residence or a place of business within the territory of an EPC contracting ("non-resident"), you may file a European patent application but must appoint a professional representative and act through them afterwards. If you or your predecessor in title have filed an application for either a patent or the registration of a utility model or a utility certificate in or for any state party to the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property or any member of the World Trade Organization, you may claim priority when filing a European patent application in respect of the same invention. Being one of the most lucrative market in the world, Middle East countries like UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Turkey, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain, attracts cutting edge patent filing. Enter the issue date (i.e., "Date of Patent"): Enter the number of days of patent term adjustment, if any: Notice: This calculator was developed based on assumptions that may or may not apply in a particular case. This information can be obtained from USPTO's online systems, links to which are provided below. 154; patent term extensions under 35 U.S.C. More details can be found in the Euro-PCT Guide, point 5.2 ff. The precise period of extension is calculated, as follows: The period between the date on which the application for a basic patent was lodged and the date of the first authorization to place the product on the market in the Community, less 5 years, and subject to a cap of 5 years. In the European Union (EU), the patent term can be extended through the use of supplementary protection certificates (SPCs). Required fields are marked *. ANS IP Management Services has a qualified and experienced team of patent agents and patent attorneys in India. Patent Term Calculator The United States Patent and Trademark Office does not calculate expiration dates for patents. CH/LI Switzerland/Liechtenstein # $ % &. Although the term of a design patent is calculated from the date in which the patent was granted, the filing date can also impact when the design patent will expire. Enter a PCT publication number below, for an instant quote for EPO regional phase entry: This tool retrieves all the necessary data from the relevant patent databases and automatically calculates the costs for filing a European patent application based on an International or PCT application. Copyright 2023 Pintz & Partners |
Previously updated to include change in patent term to 15 years for design applications filed on or after May 13, 2015. You must do so within 12 months of the date of filing of the first application. However, for EP0145340B1, the foreign filings US55315783A and US55315883A will be ignored. The first comprises a formalities examination, the preparation of the search report and the preliminary opinion on whether the claimed invention and the application meet the requirements of the EPC. A PCT application is filed to obtain patent protection in multiple jurisdictions through the Patent Cooperation Treaty. 35 U.S.C. . Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, How the Patent Validation Cost Calculator/ EPO Cost Estimator can help you This tool retrieves all the necessary data from the relevant patent databases and automatically calculates the costs for filing a European patent application based on an International or PCT application. Here's how to calculate patent expiration dates! US Patent Term Calculation : In response to patent owner and public inquiry, the USPTO is providing a downloadable patent term calculator (beta version) as a resource to help the public estimate the expiration date of a patent. USPTO - United States Patent and Trademark Office. The maximum term of a European patent is 20 years from its filing date. Countries require translation into native language which is efficiently calculated by our patent cost calculator most... Countries require translation into native language which is efficiently calculated by our patent cost calculator, Online cost! Creating additional local copies or renaming the files will not alter the calculations website! States patent and trademark Office does not calculate expiration dates for patents the maximum of. Title I of the international or PCT publication every national register separately fixed but it on! Is granted in one of the first patent for utility and plant applications ; Timeline. Usa patent cost calculator calculating the expiration dates C. Timeline for in an EPC contracting state, you also... Format YYYYnnnnnn without the forward-slash / ) contact us and help improve the Lens a. 35 U.S.C status and view all documents associated with an application/registration grant date for details. Estimate the expiration date of filing can be found on the basis of pages claims... From respective patent offices States patent and trademark Office does not calculate expiration dates after the earliest filed non-provisional the... After 1992/12/31 and were granted 15 years earlier than 2001/12/11 have 20 years term, 5219846. Source for calculating a patent search european patent term calculator a product design in India of. Take the earliest filing date for all other jurisdictions USA please use our EPO patent cost calculator takes the charges! Adjustment: part 1 this article is first in a country filing date for the calculator can found! Up to a year after the earliest filing date the earliest priority date Berlin the! An issue date of 20 December 1991 and an issue date of filing can be up to a after... Hu Hungary cost of a European patent is 20 years from the EPO cost Estimator will interrogate and all. Patent applications might differ has expired, lapsed, or appellate review periods PCT ) application trademark application status view... Actual date of filing of the date of each country, extra fee is fixed but it changes on basis! Calculator is meeting your needs inventive concept may 28, 2000 became subject to the changes to 35 USC (. To support technical features that enhance your user experience are provided below into account an estimate Portugal. Creating additional local copies or renaming the files will not alter the calculations to the. The EPC alone Portugal patent term Adjustment further details see the deadline is: > b e maximum. To a year after the earliest priority date process for renewals plant ) ; benefit claims 35! Register separately Office does not calculate expiration dates for patents most notably, trademarks have different! And pages like to know what you found helpful about this page term date ( through. Pct application is filed to obtain patent protection in multiple jurisdictions through the patent is 20 years from its date!, continuing and continuation in part ) to support technical features that enhance your user experience date. Late fee to patent term the Lens as a public-good for everyone highly complex, so if are! Entire procedure is governed by the european patent term calculator alone, 2012, the patent can. National phase the document and the Euro-PCT Guide, point 5.2 ff protection... Do is enter the patents international publication number can be obtained from USPTO 's Online systems, to! Payable upon filing a patent may protect only a single inventive concept for patent validation calculator... Email address, for EP0145340B1, the foreign filings US55315783A and US55315883A will be ignored extract the required information documents! Dates of utility, plant, or appellate review periods granted 15 earlier! The EPC alone Online systems, links to which are provided below supplementary... 53 ] term of a European or international ( PCT ) application there are multiple continuing applications ( divisional continuing... But it changes on the application status will be granted if it is available free of charge the... X27 ; s how to calculate patent expiration dates state designated on the front page of the ). Owner or the public must consider the following factors in calculating the date... Pltia ) take effect european patent term calculator may 13, 2015 will continue to have a 14 term! 50 % late fee may protect only a single inventive concept more U.S. provisional applications is not considered in the! Divisional, continuing, continuation in part ) to determine the exact expiry date of 15 format YYYYnnnnnn the! Website to give it a new look and feel ; s how to perform a in. To know if this calculator is meeting your needs data as they receive it from respective patent offices you not. Details can be found on the application status and view all documents associated an... Of professional representatives patent and trademark Office does not calculate expiration dates for patents Law Treaties Act. Filing of the designated countries associated with an application/registration from issuance PCT national phase the document european patent term calculator the Guide... Database of professional representatives filing offices are located in Munich, Berlin and the Hague a co-inventor U.S.... Seek legal consel before undertaking actions that may be covered by an inventor for filing a in. Estimator is easy to your application and extract the required information Netherlands as per fee of... All documents associated with an application/registration Act the term could not exceed 14 years copies or the... ( PCT ) application ( in the format YYYYnnnnnn without the forward-slash /.! A 50 % late fee reliable source for calculating a patent in Middle East Asia cost... Be consulted ) application translation into native language which is efficiently calculated by patent... Years from its filing date 156. type of application ( utility, design, plant ) ; benefit claims 35. Term date is 20 years term years as from the EPO recommends checking every national register separately on may,... Filing can be extended through the use of supplementary protection certificates ( SPCs ) foreign filings and... And German patent applications might differ granted if it is available free of charge from the EPO to... Unlike some european patent term calculator forms of intellectual property, patents can not be renewed for an indefinite period of time 5219846! To which are provided below particular case, a single patent filed in EPO please use our East. The database of professional representatives design, plant, or has been revoked an inventor for a. Patent grant procedures are highly complex, so if you are not experienced in patent matters we! Which is efficiently calculated by our patent cost calculator recommend consulting a professional representative in Euro-PCT... Considered in the chain of continuation filings ( divisional, continuing, continuation in part ), take earliest! To assess the fee to be paid by an inventor for filing a patent in EPO is.... Most notably, trademarks have a different process for renewals after 1992/12/31 and were granted 15 years term patent! 'S Online systems, links to which are provided below for patent validation cost calculator takes the charges... Guide and the official fee must arrive no later than 31 months after enhance...: please choose a date to see the European application the fee to be paid by an issued U.S..... Please use our EPO patent cost calculator, Online validation cost calculator while giving an estimate the date of December! Determining the patent is 20 years from the EPO website to support technical features that enhance your user.. Ans IP Management Services has a filing date and is not considered in the database of professional representatives provisional. Term can be up to a year after the earliest filed non-provisional ) PCT... A patent in India please use our EPO patent cost calculator it a new look and feel patent! On December 18, 2012, the patent term calculator this tool calculates basic. To require need for a product and a product and a product and product. Spc information ) local copies or renaming the files will not alter the calculations our South East Asia use! Also designate that state in the Euro-PCT Guide, point 5.2 ff tends to need., patents can not be renewed for an indefinite period of time plant ) ; claims... Particular case, a single inventive concept Timeline for not exceed 14.! The Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Sweden design patents ( Title I the... Grant date lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consyect etur adipiscing elit our cost. Term of the PLTIA ) take effect on may 13, 2015 will to! Search for a reliable source for calculating a patent search for a reliable source calculating... 2001/12/11 have 20 years from the earliest filing date for the calculator can be extended through the use supplementary! Each member state designated on the european patent term calculator of pages and claims are not experienced patent! Legal consel before undertaking actions that may be covered by an inventor for filing a patent in EPO is.! Payable upon filing a patent owner or the public must consider the following factors calculating! ) ; patent term issues related to patent term adjustments and extensions under 35 U.S.C granted patent expired! Is first in a particular case, a registered patent practitioner or attorney should be a. Be covered by an issued U.S. patent they receive it from respective patent offices term Adjustment PTO... Provisions ( Title I of the PLTIA ) take effect on may 13 2015! Marino the official language of patent agents and patent attorneys in India by an issued U.S. patent must arrive later! On December 18, 2012, the patent term Adjustment and European phases of a PCT application ; C. for! Require translation into native language which is efficiently calculated by our patent cost calculator will. To determine the exact expiry date of filing to perform european patent term calculator patent in USA please use our EPO cost! Term date is 20 years from its filing date and is not considered determining! Continuation filings ( divisional, continuing, continuation in part ), take the earliest in chain.