overview

variations

Australia

New Zealand

expiry

comparisons

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related
Guide:

Intellectual
Property

     comparisons

This page offers a perspective on the duration of copyright protection by looking at the changing term of protection for patents.

As with copyright, the period of protection for patents has varied over time and by jurisdiction.

In Canada for example the period has been as follows -

• 1820s (Upper and Lower Canada) - 14 years
• 1830s (Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Province of Canada) - 14 years, extendible to 21 years
• 1869 (federal) - 15 years (three 5 year terms)
• 1880s - 18 years (three 6 year periods)
• 1935 - 17 years
• 1987 - 20 years

In the US variation has included -

• 1790 - "not exceeding fourteen years"
• 1836 - 14 years with extension for further seven years
• 1861 - 17 years
• 1994 - 20 years

In Germany variation has been -

• 1877 - 15 years
• 1923 - 18 years

Note that most regimes feature provision for innovation or utility patents that have a shorter term of protection.

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