Patent life

The patent is granted to you for a 20-year period, at the end of which it will fall into the public domain, i.e. it could be freely reproduced.
The patent is not an end in itself, it must be used to help you better market your invention. You may choose among several strategies to conquer the markets and to transform your patent into commercial success:

Directly market your patented product
To launch your product, you must work out a development plan, and seek sources of funding to carry it out. The patent is an asset to convince your investors of the innovative character of your product, of your will to back such product in the face of competition, while minimizing the risks of copy.

Sell the patent to a third party
If you sell your patent, you immediately receive the sum which you have negotiated, and which you estimate to be the value of your invention. But you also lose all your rights on the patent, for the benefit of the person to whom you transfer such patent. It is a decision to be taken with caution: do not run the risk of losing revenues which are much more important, even if it is necessary to be patient to cash them

Grant the patent to a third party under a license agreement
If you do not feel able to assume the use of your patent, you may grant your usage rights to another company, in exchange of the collection of royalties. You remain thus the owner of your patent, and you enjoy revenues without having to incur the running costs.
Be very vigilant during the negotiation of the license agreement, and do not hesitate to call upon specialists to advise you.

Create a strategic alliance with third parties having complementary assets
You may form an alliance with partners within the framework of cross-licenses. For example, if you hold a patent on the improvement of a concept, you will benefit from an alliance with the patent holder on the basic concept. The contract determines the shares of each Party based on the importance of its invention. This type of contract may also be the subject of negotiations.

The patent is your ally to conquer the markets.