The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit recently issued a decision that highlights a risk in design patent prosecution—specifically, attempting to claim priority to a utility application. In re Floyd, the Federal...more
In a landmark decision, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has overruled the longstanding test for assessing whether a design patent is considered obvious in view of prior art. This decision represents a pivotal...more
The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) recently updated its guidance for patent examiners and applicants in determining obviousness under 35 USC § 103, based on the US Supreme Court’s ruling in KSR Int’l Co. v. Teleflex...more
The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) published supplemental guidance on whether a design claim including a computer-generated electronic image is directed to statutory subject matter. While the USPTO’s examination of...more
In a much-anticipated opinion that addresses an issue of first impression, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit narrowed the scope of “comparison prior art”―prior art considered by the fact finder during an...more
The US Patent and Trademark Office announced a notice of proposed rulemaking on May 16 that would create a separate design patent bar. The proposed changes would effectively expand the admission criteria for those who...more
The term “metaverse” first appeared in Neal Stephenson’s dystopian novel Snow Crash in 1992. Two decades later, the metaverse has evolved from a concept in print into an interactive and immersive reality. Its hyper-realistic...more
The Russian government has issued a decree to deny compensation to patentees from “unfriendly states” when their patents are used for Russia’s national security purposes. Additionally, the US Patent and Trademark Office has...more
The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit recently reversed an appeal of a decision granting summary judgment that an invention was reduced to practice during the term of a cooperative research and development agreement...more
The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit’s recent decision on an appeal from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board to limit prior art for design patent applications to only analogous fields may make it easier for...more
The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit last month reversed a decision by the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals that rejected a contractor’s proposed document legends prohibiting unauthorized third-party use of...more
The US Patent and Trademark Office has issued a request for public comment seeking the public’s input on whether design patent protection should extend to digital designs that encompass new and emerging technologies, such as...more
The benefits of clear surface shading in a design patent were highlighted in a recent district circuit decision, which found that purported contour or tangent edge lines added to the drawings to illustrate a transition edge...more
The Brexit “transition period” will come to an end on 31 December 2020, and from 1 January 2021, the United Kingdom will cease to follow EU rules. This brings significant changes to design law in the United Kingdom and...more
With each passing day, more US companies are voluntarily rising to answer the president’s call to manufacture face masks, ventilators, and other critical coronavirus (COVID-19) protective equipment, but without a government...more
Rapid advancements in medical device technology have brought unprecedented changes to the industry. Increasingly, innovative medical devices also combine developments from other industries such as software, hardware,...more
While sidestepping the anticipated “article of manufacture” issue for calculating the infringer’s total profits under 35 USC § 289, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in a recent precedential opinion overturned a...more
The Federal Circuit’s recent decision to dismiss a claim for design patent infringement raises the importance of the specification in design patents.
The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit recently decided an...more
Even where a consumer may prefer the particular design to match other parts of a whole, the Federal Circuit held, the aesthetic appeal of that design is insufficient to render the design functional. The appellate panel also...more
The recent ruling in In re Maatita means that a two-dimensional drawing of a three-dimensional object may meet the enablement and definiteness requirements for a design patent....more
Applicants should consider how including multiple embodiments in a design patent application may later impact the scope of protection....more
While the “Leave” result of the June 23 referendum will not have an immediate impact on intellectual property, the eventual British exit (“Brexit”) from the European Union could have long-term implications for IP protection...more
6/27/2016
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Applicants for design patents should consider claiming functional aspects of their designs in addition to the purely ornamental elements as part of their claiming strategy to achieve the broadest protection for their designs....more