(706) 638-1453. Walker County originated in 1833. Drawn from the original Cherokee County and part of Murray County, the region owes its name to Major Freeman Walker of Augusta, a lawyer and U.S. senator. Although residents first called the county seat by its Indian name, Chattooga, they later renamed it to honor the Marquis de Lafayette.
Once a patent is issued, a maintenance fee must be paid on the 4th, 8th, and 12th anniversaries of the date of issuance. You have to pay maintenance fees. http://www.uspto.gov/patents/process/maintain.jsp Also, patents are not self-enforcing.
US patents with a filing date before June 8, 1995 provide protection for up to seventeen years counting from the date of grant (the date given with reference numeral 45), or 20 years from the filing date, whichever expires later. However, the patent holder is required to pay maintenance fees to keep his patent valid. In most European countries, these fees are yearly. The USA requires maintenance fees to be paid at 3.5 years, 7.5 years, and 11.5 years after issuance. If the holder does not pay a maintenance fee, the patent becomes abandoned.