What if the patent right expires?

The patent expires, so you can't continue to apply. Invention patents are valid for 20 years from the date of filing, and utility models and designs are valid for 10 years from the date of filing. In the meantime, an annual fee will be paid to maintain the patent. When it expires, it will become an open technology, which has no legal effect and can be realized by anyone for free. Article 45 of the Patent Law of People's Republic of China (PRC) has a term of 20 years, and the term of utility model patent right and design patent right is 10 years, both of which are counted from the date of filing. This article explains that patent right is different from movable property and immovable property.