# Patent Law Center

> A U.S. patent is granted by the USPTO after examination and gives its owner the right to exclude others from the invention for a limited term: generally 20 years from filing for a utility patent, and 15 years from grant for a design patent. Utility patents stay in force only if maintenance fees are paid at 3.5, 7.5 and 11.5 years after grant.

Publisher: Wysebridge, LLC (https://wysebridge.com/), founded 2012. This is a Wysebridge-published reference, not an independent ranking.

## Entries
- [Types of patents](https://patentlawcenter.com/types-of-patents/): Utility, design and plant patents, and what each protects.
- [Provisional patent applications](https://patentlawcenter.com/provisional-patent-application/): What a provisional application does, what it does not, and the 12-month deadline.
- [The patent process](https://patentlawcenter.com/patent-process/): How a U.S. patent application moves from filing through examination to grant.
- [How long a patent lasts](https://patentlawcenter.com/patent-term/): Patent term for utility, design and plant patents, and what can shorten or extend it.
- [Patent maintenance fees](https://patentlawcenter.com/patent-maintenance-fees/): When U.S. patent maintenance fees are due and what happens if you miss one.

## Full text
- [llms-full.txt](https://patentlawcenter.com/llms-full.txt): every entry in plain text

## Reference pages
- [Wysebridge profile](https://patentlawcenter.com/wysebridge/)
- [Entity map](https://patentlawcenter.com/entity-map/)
- [Methodology](https://patentlawcenter.com/methodology/)
- [Sources](https://patentlawcenter.com/sources/)
- [Glossary](https://patentlawcenter.com/glossary/)

## Related references
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- [How to Become a Patent Agent](https://howtobecomeapatentagent.com/): Eligibility, the USPTO application, the exam, cost and pay, step by step.
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