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Free Patent Expiry Checker — When Does a Patent Expire? | PatSnap Eureka
Free Tool  ·  For R&D, IP & Strategy Teams

Check when any patent
expires — or has already

Look up a specific patent’s legal status and exact expiry date, or scan a technology space to see which competitor patents are expiring — and what technology becomes free to use.

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Single Patent Lookup
Try: US10342891B2 EP2881394B1 CN101234567A WO2019049153A1
Examples: graphene supercapacitor mRNA delivery GaN power semiconductor autonomous lidar
Checking patent status…
Querying 208M+ patent records
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Patent lifetime —
Patent number
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Jurisdiction
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Filing date
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Calculated expiry
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Grant date
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Assignee
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Patent title
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Patent Insights
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Key Claims
Claim 1: A composition comprising a saccharide component and a collagen component wherein the saccharide is present at a concentration of 10–40% w/w effective to suppress matrix metalloproteinase activity in chronic wound environments…
Competitive Landscape
14 related patents 4 active competitors High citation activity
Technology Focus
Wound care  ·  Biomaterials  ·  Drug delivery systems
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Expiring patents — showing top 5
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208M+
Patents tracked
174
Jurisdictions
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What you get

A clear answer + the data you want

Enter a patent number or describe a technology area — the tool does the rest.

Legal Status Verdict — Single Lookup
Expiry Timeline — Single Lookup
Expiry Distribution Chart — Tech Scan
Assignee Breakdown — Tech Scan
Single Patent Lookup
Single Patent Lookup
3 free remaining
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Expiring within 12 months
US10342891B2 · MEDLINE INDUSTRIES LP
Expiring Soon
Patent lifetime2005 → 2025
8 months remaining · nominal expiry 15 March 2025
Jurisdiction
United States
Filed
2005-03-15
Expiry
2025-03-15
Technology Area Scan
Technology Area Scan
solid-state battery · US · 3 yrs
34
Patents found
8
Expired
5
Expiring soon
21
Active
Patents expiring by year
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
Expiring Soon
US9887423B2
Sulfide-based solid electrolyte for li-ion batteries
Aug 2025
Nominal expiry
Active
EP3012896B1
Garnet-type solid electrolyte and production method
Mar 2026
Nominal expiry
Who uses this tool

Three questions, one tool

Whether you’re tracking a competitor patent, scanning a technology space, or looking for free-to-use technology — the same data engine answers all three.

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R&D Engineer · Product Team
Is this competitor patent still blocking us?
“We want to use a technique described in US9876543. Is it still protected, and when exactly does the threat expire?”
→ Use Single Patent Lookup
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IP Strategy · Competitive Intelligence
Which patents in our space are expiring in the next 3 years?
“I need to brief the CTO on which competitor IP in solid-state battery technology is falling into the public domain between 2025 and 2028.”
→ Use Technology Area Scan
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Entrepreneur · Manufacturer · Startup
What valuable technology just entered the public domain?
“We want to build a product using expired patented technology — find us everything in flexible electronics that’s now free to use.”
→ Use Technology Area Scan (All expired)
208M+
Patents across 174 jurisdictions
50%
Of patents lapse early from non-payment
60%+
Of US patents receive PTA extensions
Daily
Legal status updates from patent offices
Eureka Platform

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Knowing when patents expire is the starting point. PatSnap Eureka turns that signal into FTO analysis, competitor monitoring, and R&D direction — before competitors act on the same data.

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Expiry Checker
Legal status · Expiry date · Technology scan · Assignee breakdown
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Weekly alerts when patents in your space are filed, granted, or approaching expiry
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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How do I check when a patent expires?
Enter the patent number in the Single Patent Lookup tab. The tool returns the legal status, calculated expiry date (filing date + 20 years for post-1995 utility patents), jurisdiction, and assignee. For US patents, a notice flags whether the patent may have Patent Term Adjustments extending the nominal date — with a link to verify at USPTO Patent Center.
Can I use a patent that has expired or lapsed?
Yes. Once a patent expires at the end of its statutory term, or lapses due to unpaid maintenance fees, the protected invention enters the public domain and is free for anyone to make, use, or sell. Always confirm current legal status before relying on expiry for commercial decisions — a lapsed patent can sometimes be revived within a grace period.
What is a Patent Term Adjustment (PTA) and why does it matter?
PTA is a USPTO mechanism that extends a US patent’s term to compensate for delays during examination. Over 60% of US patents receive PTA, sometimes extending the effective expiry by 1–2+ years beyond the nominal 20-year term. This tool shows the nominal calculated expiry and clearly flags US patents where PTA may apply. For time-sensitive FTO decisions, always verify the actual term in USPTO Patent Center.
What is the difference between expiry and lapse?
Expiry is permanent — it occurs naturally at the end of the statutory 20-year term. Lapse occurs earlier when a patent holder fails to pay maintenance (renewal) fees. Both result in the technology entering the public domain, but a lapsed patent can sometimes be revived if the owner pays the outstanding fees within a grace period (typically 24 months in the US). An expired patent cannot be revived.
How accurate is the expiry date calculation?
For the vast majority of patents (non-US, or US patents without PTA), the calculated expiry (filing date + 20 years) is correct. For US patents, PTA can extend the term, and terminal disclaimers can shorten it. The tool shows the nominal calculation and explicitly flags these caveats with direct links to official verification sources. This tool provides a strong signal for strategic planning — for business-critical FTO decisions, always verify with official patent office records or a qualified attorney.
Is my search kept confidential?
Yes. PatSnap is ISO 27001 certified. Your query is processed solely to return your result — it is not retained, logged, or used to train any AI model. All data is encrypted in transit. You retain full ownership of all input and output.
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