July 31, 2023 - Design patents and utility patents have co-existed in harmony — each staying in its own lane, covering its own subject matter — for over 180 years. The U.S. Patent Act was enacted in ...

Demand for design patent protections has been increasing in the last decade, and there is no indication that this trend will slow down. James Rieke, partner at Merchant & Gould, spoke to Minnesota ...

The number of granted design patents has tripled over the past 10 years. To find out why — and how design patents are being used to secure value for innovative products — Bruce Berman interviews IP ...

Design patents, like utility patents, are required to comply with a requirement that an applicant's design is non-obvious. 35 U.S.C. §§103, 171. But design patents protect the non-functional aspects ...

June 1, 2022 - In our last article, we discussed the implications of NFTs and how intellectual property rights could be used to protect them. In this article, we will explore the availability and ...

The USPTO’s proposal to create a separate design patent bar could open up opportunities for lawyers but risks confusing those who don't understand IP nuances The USPTO should ensure that members of ...

We collaborate with the world's leading lawyers to deliver news tailored for you. Sign Up for any (or all) of our 25+ Newsletters. Some states have laws and ethical rules regarding solicitation and ...

Design patent counsel are concerned that an upcoming case at the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit could result in uncertainty over when design patents are obvious. The Federal Circuit granted ...

“We see no reason to distinguish between disclaimer by amendment and disclaimer by argument and conclude that a patentee may surrender claim scope of a design patent by its representations to the ...