How many years does the Civil Code protect utility model patents?

Legal analysis: ten years. The patent right for utility model or design shall be maintained for 10 years from the date of application and shall be terminated according to law; If the patentee fails to pay the annual fee and late fee in full as required, the patent right shall be terminated as of the expiration of the previous year.

Legal basis: Article 2 of the Patent Law of People's Republic of China (PRC) Invention-creation as mentioned in this Law refers to inventions, utility models and designs. Invention refers to a new technical scheme proposed for a product, method or its improvement. Utility model refers to a new practical technical scheme for the shape, structure or combination of products. Appearance design refers to a new design that is aesthetically pleasing and suitable for industrial application, which is made on the shape, pattern or their combination of products and all or part of the combination of colors, shapes and patterns.