Term ended Dec 31, 2023 · Medium confidence
20-year base term ended Dec 31, 2023
Why Medium: The disclaimer's references carry disclaimers of their own not yet read (US 8,169,492), so the cap could be lower.
USPTO later recorded it as expired for non-payment on Sep 29, 2025.
Dec 31, 2003
Dec 31, 2023
Aug 22, 2017
This patent's term runs 142 days past its 20-year base term on prosecution delay. A terminal disclaimer resolved from the filed document caps it earlier. Confidence: Medium. from the record
How we calculated this date
| Step | Input | Date after this step | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base term, 20 years from filing | Clock starts Dec 31, 2003, when application 10/748,123, the earliest non-provisional in its chain, was filed (this one was filed Dec 15, 2014) | Dec 31, 2023 | High confidence |
| Continuity chain | Every parent in the chain resolved | no change | High confidence |
| Patent term adjustment | +142 days, USPTO patent term adjustment record | May 21, 2024 | High confidence |
| Terminal disclaimer cap | Disclaimer resolved from the filed document (refs US 8,169,492, US 8,913,143) | capped to Dec 31, 2023 | Medium confidence |
| Patent term extension | None on file | no change | High confidence |
| Fee events | 1 of 1 maintenance fees paid | term ended | High confidence |
| USPTO status record | Recorded as expired for non-payment on Sep 29, 2025, after the term ended | no change | High confidence |
| Computed term end | The steps above, in order | Dec 31, 2023 | Medium confidence |
This family
| US 7,683,937 | In force (reinstated) Aug 2028 | Aug 2028 |
| US 8,169,492 | Term ended no later than Dec 2023 | no later than Dec 2023 |
| US 8,913,143 | Term ended Dec 2023 | Dec 2023 |
| US 9,740,371 | this patent Dec 2023 | Dec 2023 |
Assignments
| Recorded | Assignor | Assignee | Conveyance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 15, 2014 Reel 34507, frame 382 | Blumenfeld, Steven M. | AOL LLC, a Delaware Limited Liability Company (Formerly Known as America Online, Inc.) | Assignment of Assignor's Interest |
| Dec 15, 2014 Reel 34507, frame 587 | AOL LLC, a Delaware Limited Liability Company (Formerly Known as America Online, Inc.) | Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. | Assignment of Assignor's Interest |
Sources
Google Patents · The patent document at USPTO · Assignment records at USPTO
USPTO account required: This application in Patent Center · USPTO's maintenance fee lookup
Maintenance fee events come from USPTO's own fee records. Its fee lookup asks for the patent number and the application number.
What's changing
This term is capped by a terminal disclaimer resolved from the filed document, referencing US 8,169,492, US 8,913,143.