Detailed explanation of the validity period of the offer, international trademark registration in Canada and drug patent validity period in Germany, the United States and Japan

In international trade, an offer refers to the act of one party proposing various transaction conditions for the purchase or sale of goods and expressing its willingness to reach an agreement and enter into a contract with the other party based on these conditions. The validity period of an offer (or term of acceptance) refers to the period within which the offeree can exercise the right to accept the offer. An oral offer is generally valid on the spot, while the validity period of a written offer is clearly stipulated by the offeror in the offer or judged based on a “reasonable time”.

Canadian international trademark registration validity and renewal

Canadian international trademark registration is valid for 10 years. During this period, trademark owners can exercise their trademark rights in accordance with the law, including use and protection, to further consolidate their brand status. The validity period of a trademark can be renewed every 10 years before expiration. Necessary information must be submitted and fees must be paid during renewal. In addition, the scope of protection provided by Canadian international trademark registrations is generally limited to the domestic scope. If an enterprise wishes to use its trademark in other countries or regions, it must apply for corresponding trademark registration locally.

Validity period of U.S. design patents

The validity period of a U.S. design patent is 15 years, calculated from the date the design patent application is authorized. The patentee needs to pay maintenance fees regularly to ensure the continued validity of the patent right. The patentee has the right to protect its design from unauthorized use and infringement during the validity period.

Validity period of German appearance patent

The validity period of a German design patent is 25 years, calculated from the date of grant of the patent. Patent holders are required to pay periodic annual fees to keep the patent valid. Before the expiration of the validity period, the enterprise needs to apply for patent renewal and pay the corresponding fees.

Validity period of foreign drug patents

The validity period of drug patents has an important impact on the research and development and market competition of innovative drugs. In Europe, drug patents are generally valid for 20 years, calculated from the date of patent application. In some cases, an additional period of protection of up to 5 years may be available subject to certain conditions. The validity period of U.S. drug patents is also 20 years, calculated from the date of patent grant, but under certain circumstances, a patent extension can be applied for, up to a maximum of 14 years. Japanese drug patents are also valid for 20 years and can be extended for up to 5 years.

Taken together, whether it is the validity period of offers in international trade or the validity periods of trademark registrations, appearance patents and drug patents in different countries and regions, they all reflect the importance of intellectual property protection. Businesses should fully understand and take advantage of these regulations to protect their rights and promote business development.