How long does a European patent term typically last?

A European patent term typically lasts 20 years from the filing date. This is the standard duration set by Article 63 of the European Patent Convention, assuming the patent is granted and required renewal fees are paid.

The European Patent Office examines applications, but a granted European patent becomes enforceable through the designated national states. Applicants generally pay annual renewal fees during the application process and, after grant, pay maintenance fees to the relevant national patent offices. Failure to pay can cause rights to lapse before the full term.

Twenty years is measured from filing, not from the date of grant or publication. That distinction matters because examination can take several years, reducing the commercially useful period after approval. European rules can permit limited supplementary protection for certain regulated products, especially medicines, but those extensions are exceptions rather than the ordinary patent term.

When the term ends, patent protection normally expires and the invention enters the public domain. A patent also does not automatically grant permission to use an invention; other laws, such as safety or regulatory rules, may still apply.