Term of Utility Models

Utility models may be maintained for a maximum period of ten years. To this end, the period of protection initially limited to three years shall be extended for another three years and subsequently for another two terms each covering two years.

Thus, utility models are only effective for half of the maximum term of a patent. In light of the fact that, according to statistics, the majority of patents are abandoned after expiry of eleven years from the filing date by non-payment of the annuity fees due, and the product cycles of current market products are becoming increasingly shorter, the difference between the term of utility models and patents becomes much more relative.