Answer:
There are two different types of patents that have different commercial lives.
- a standard patent which may last up to 20 years (or 25 years for pharmaceutical substances)
- an innovation patent which may last up to 8 years
Whilst all patents must be new and useful, a standard patent must involve an inventive step. In contrast, an innovative patent need only involve an innovative step. Whether a step is considered inventive or innovative will depend on the extent to which the invention relies on existing published information or background knowledge.
