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(1) Subject to subsection (2), a patent shall expire twenty years after the filing date of the application for the patent.

(2) In order to maintain the patent or patent application, an annual fee shall be paid in advance to the Registrar for each year, starting one year after the filing date of the application for grant of the patent.

(3) A period of grace of six months shall be allowed for the late payment of the annual fee on payment of the prescribed surcharge.

(4) Where an annual fee is not paid in accordance with this section, the patent application shall be deemed to have been withdrawn or the patent shall lapse.