Apply for a patent 专利申请
A: Mr.Li, I want to apply for a patent in your country, but I don't know about China's Patent Law. Would you please tell me the essentials? 李先生，我想在中国申请专利，但我对中国的专利法不太了解，您能给我概要地讲讲吗？
B: Yes, of course. The aim of the Patent Law is to protect and encourage inventions and to promote the development of science and technology. The law came into effect in 1984. It comprises 8 chapters with 69 articles. 当然可以，专利法的制定是要保护和鼓励专利发明，促进科技发展。我国的专利法于1984年生效，共有8章69款。
A: How does a foreign enterprise apply for a patent in China? 外国企业怎样申请专利呢？
B: He has to appoint a patent agency designated by our government to act as his patent agent. And this is usually done by the Patent Agent Department. 他必须委托一个由我国政府设立的专利代理部门执行。此任务通常有专利代理部门执行。
A: How long is the duration of patent right for an invention according to the law? 根据这个法律，发明专利权的期限是多久？
B: 15 years. 15年。

act as是担当的意思。例如：I'll act as interpreter. （我来当翻译。）；apply for是申请的意思；essentials意为要领，概要。例如：The book deals with the essentials of English grammar. （这本书论述英语语法的要点。）；the Patent Law是专利法的意思；come into effect意为生效。