Can others use the appearance patent after it expires?

Legal analysis: after the termination of the patent right, the design will not be protected by the patent. But whether others can use it depends on whether the design conforms to the relevant provisions of the copyright law. If there is, it is protected by copyright. Generally speaking, a design is also protected by copyright if it contains a graphic design that can be used as an artistic work, or a graphic design that can be used as a part of a sculpture or other works protected by copyright.

Legal basis: Article 35 of the Regulations for the Implementation of the Copyright Law of People's Republic of China (PRC) refers to creative and reproducible intellectual achievements in the fields of literature, art and science, and their copyright comes into being from the date of creation. Copyright owners enjoy the rights of publication, signature and reproduction of works according to law, and copyright is an absolute right. Under normal circumstances, a third party may not use a work without the permission of the author. When the same work has both copyright and design patent right, the invalidation of design patent does not affect the continued existence of copyright.