(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.
Hence, a 20-year period of the patent usually gives manufacturers a chance to recoup the cost of developing a new drug. When a drug patent expires, any pharmaceutical company can manufacture and sell the drug. A drug, which is produced and distributed without patent protection is called a generic drug.