A state authority decides who owns what. The only reason anybody owns anything is. The state authority says. This person owns this property. The state authority will take this person’s side in any dispute over property rights.

On October 20, 2015, the USPTO issued to me a U.S. Patent No. 9162137 for my invention. My invention is the apparatus and method for playing a comparing-card game belonging to a Finnish 27 ™ family of table-card games. The invention is my intellectual property. The state authority says. I own this property. The state authority will take my side in any dispute over property rights.

In exchange, I must keep the patent active. I must pay three maintenance fees. A first maintenance fee was due by no later than three and one half years after the issue date. Three and one half years after the issue date was April 20, 2019.

The state authority allows patent holders to pay maintenance fees up to six months in advance of the due date. A six month grace period follows the due date. During the six month grace period, the state authority permits patent holders to pay maintenance fees plus an additional late charge.

Let us suppose. I didn’t pay the maintenance fee. Let us suppose further. I allowed the six months grace period pass without paying the maintenance fee plus the additional late charge. In that event, the patent would expire. The invention would be public property. I would no longer own this piece of intellectual property. I still wanted to own this piece of intellectual property. For that reason, I paid the maintenance fee. I had the ability. I am grateful.

A second maintenance fee was due by no later than seven and one half years after the issue date. Seven and one half years after the issue date would be April 20, 2023. I paid it. I had the ability. I am grateful.

A third maintenance fee is due by no later than eleven and one half years after the issue date. Eleven and one half years after the issue date will be April 20, 2027. I have not paid this third maintenance fee.

That’s the big news. The patent is active until at least October 20, 2027. Let us suppose. I pay the third maintenance fee. In that event, the patent would be active until sometime in 2034.