Legal Question in Intellectual Property in Nevada
Expiration of Patents
What happens to a patent after it expires ?
Asked on 4/15/00, 7:15 pm
1 Answer from Attorneys
Andrew Thomas
Thomas & Thomas LLP
Re: Expiration of Patents
Once a patent expires it becomes "prior art" that is part of the public domain and can be used by anyone. The owner of the patent no longer has ownership or control over the subject of the patent.
Answered on 4/25/00, 5:48 pm