Patents in China are divided into three categories, including inventions, utility models and designs. 1. According to Article 42 of China's Patent Law, the term of invention patent right is 20 years, and the term of utility model patent right and design patent right is 10 year, all of which are counted from the date of application. 2. The filing date mentioned in the Patent Law refers to the priority date, if there is any priority. 3. Pay attention to the time limit for applying for patent protection, and the time limit for using other people's patents must be retrieved from the patent office before choosing to use them. 4. Maintaining the effectiveness of the patent right is based on the premise that the patentee pays the annual fee according to the regulations. When the patent right is terminated in advance due to the following circumstances: ① The patentee fails to pay the annual fee as required. (2) The patentee waives his patent right in writing.