"Life" as a law of nature/abstract idea/physical phenomena would not meet the Statutory Requirement of patentability under current USPTO regulations - in order to be eligible for patent, the object must be some useful and new (or newly improved) process, manufactured item, machine, or material.
Besides, we've all known about "Life" for so long that even if natural phenomena *were* inherently patentable, it would certainly not make the grade for the Novelty (Newness) Requirement of the patent process.
At least, not in the US.
The life of a patent is 17 years in the United States.
Lipitor which expired in 2011 was the most valuable patent ever with sales exceeding $105 over the life of the patent.
20 years
20 years.
Nova - 1974 Life Patent Pending 9-17 was released on: USA: 28 February 1982
He never worked for the patent office in his life. He has many patents to his name but the patents came form work in his laboratories.
Thomas Edison.
Thomas Edison.
If the inventor will be the patent owner (rather than a company the inventor is working for), the fees are 1/4 what they are for companies. The complete US patent fee schedule is linked below.
Thomas Edison.
Thomas Edison.
how many inventions did Thomas Edison patent in his life