The appearance patent didn't last long before it expired.

Within the patent validity period (20 years of invention, utility model/appearance 10 year), if the annual fee for the next year is not paid in time, no late fee will be charged for 1 month, 5% for 1 month but less than 2 months, and 10% for 2 months and less than 3 months ... If the annual fee and late fee are not paid within 6 months, the State Knowledge Bureau will issue a notice of termination of rights, and there will be a recovery period of 2 months. If we miss this window again, it will never be recovered. If the patent right expires, the invention lasts for 20 years, and the utility model/appearance 10 expires, then these are all known technologies and no fees need to be paid.

legal ground

In Article 42 of the Patent Law of People's Republic of China (PRC), the term of the invention patent right is 20 years, and the term of the utility model patent right and the design patent right is 10 years, all of which are counted from the date of application.

Article 43 of the Patent Law of People's Republic of China (PRC), the patentee shall pay the annual fee from the year when the patent right is granted.

Article 44 of the Patent Law of People's Republic of China (PRC) is under any of the following circumstances: (1) Failing to pay the annual fee as required; (2) The patentee waives his patent right in writing. Where the patent right is terminated before the expiration of the time limit, it shall be registered and announced by the patent administration department of the State Council.