Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Key Takeaways Utility patents expire after 20 years. Long-term protection comes from continuously improving the product, filing follow-on patents and building patent families that evolve with the market. Patents aren’t reserved for breakthroughs. Refined formulations, manufacturing efficiencies, improved delivery systems and system-level or software refinements all qualify. Patent expiration gives competitors freedom to copy, but if your company innovates fast enough, early patents will only describe outdated versions that no competitor would want to copy anyway. A question I’m asked frequently, by founders, innovation managers and members of patent committees alike, sounds simple on its face: When do patents expire, and how do companies protect innovation over time? The short answer is straightforward.…