What “public domain” means for patents: These patents were filed in 2005. Under US law, utility patents expire 20 years from their filing date — meaning the inventions below become freely available in 2025. Anyone can manufacture, use, sell, or import these technologies without a license or royalty payment. This opens significant opportunities for engineers, startups, and manufacturers.
How the iPhone's Slide-to-Unlock Gesture Worked
Distributed electronic commerce system with centralized point of purchase
Context switching using halt sequencing protocol
Apparatus and method for compressing data, apparatus and method for analyzing data, and data management system
Disclaimer: Expiration status is calculated from filing date + 20 years. Some patents may have maintenance fee lapses, terminal disclaimers, or continuation patents that affect their effective status. Always verify with a registered patent attorney before relying on expiration status for commercial decisions.