When does the patent protection period begin?

Legal analysis: the protection period of patent right is from the date of authorization announcement to the last day of the patent year in which you pay the annual fee, or the date when you give up the patent right. Even if the annual fee is never waived and paid as required, the patent can only be protected for 20 years (invention) or 10 years (utility model) from the date of application.

Legal basis: People's Republic of China (PRC) Patent Law.

Article 39 If the application for a patent for invention is not found to be rejected after substantive examination, the administrative department for patent in the State Council shall make a decision to grant a patent right for invention, issue a patent certificate for invention, and register and announce it at the same time. The invention patent right shall take effect as of the date of announcement.

Article 40 If the application for a patent for utility model or design is not found to be rejected after preliminary examination, the administrative department for patent in the State Council shall make a decision to grant the patent right for utility model or design, issue the corresponding patent certificate, and register and announce it at the same time. The patent right for utility model and the patent right for design shall take effect as of the date of announcement.