How expiry works
US utility patents expire exactly 20 years from their earliest filing date. A patent filed in 2005 enters the public domain in 2025.
What you can do
Once a patent expires, you can freely manufacture, use, sell, and import the patented invention without a license or royalty payment.
Important caveat
Some patents have continuation filings still in force. Always verify with a patent attorney before relying on expiration for commercial decisions.