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China and Britain are creating a quickie patent system. Instead of paying for
a full-blown patent lasting 20 years, inventors can apply for a short-term
patent that runs for just eight years. Applications are made to the registrar in
Hong Kong, but the British Patent Office will carry out the search through
previous patents and publications. This costs £600. The short-term patent
is granted within a few months, instead of the usual few years. This provides
quick and easy protection for new inventions, especially in consumer
electronics, which are often quickly overtaken by new developments.