True, but patents can be renewed, and or added to. This apparently, I gather, includes that kind of license.
Generally speaking, in the US a utility patent is good for 20 years (time can be added if the patent office drags its feet, and in some cases can be as short as 17 years.) A design patent is good for 15 years (used to be 14). If you file a new patent covering the same ground, you have to disclaim (terminal disclaimer, as I recall) the portion that would extend past the original patent date, or you can lose your patent for deceptive intent. You can’t extend a patent past its expiration date. You can, however, expand the scope of the original patent. (Caveat on the length - you do have to keep regularly paying fees to the USPTO to keep your patent alive. For details as to timing and amount, talk to a patent lawyer.
Laws may vary in other countries.
Like immigration law, I don’t do patent law, but I’ve interacted with both patent lawyers and immigration lawyers over the years and some of it has rubbed off.