Patendiperioodi
Patendiperioodi refers to the duration for which a patent right is legally enforceable. This period begins on the filing date of the patent application and typically lasts for a set number of years, most commonly twenty years. The exact length of the patent term can vary depending on the jurisdiction and the type of patent. For instance, in many countries, utility patents have a twenty-year term. However, provisions may exist for extensions in certain circumstances, such as for pharmaceutical patents to compensate for the time lost during the regulatory approval process.
Once a patent expires, the invention enters the public domain. This means that anyone can freely use,