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Covers term lengths tied to filing dates, what qualifies as design subject matter (shape and surface ornamentation), and how claims typically reference drawings. Compares design patents with utility patents, explains the enabling provisions and source-of-law framework, and summarizes novelty/originality/nonobviousness standards. Includes a two-step nonobviousness test using primary and secondary references and cites relevant cases.",{"@graph":69,"@context":122},[70,84,105],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":40,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/research-report/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/design-patents-basics/648207/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":99,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":100,"interactionStatistic":101},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/design-patents-basics/648207.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"fresh2021","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-24","2026-10-23",true,{"@type":102,"interactionType":103,"userInteractionCount":8},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":104},"ViewAction",{"@type":106,"mainEntity":107},"FAQPage",[108,114,118],{"name":109,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":111},"What term applies to design patents filed before and after May 13, 2015?","Question",{"text":112,"@type":113},"The term is 14 years from issuance for pre–May 13, 2015 applications, and 15 years from issuance for post–May 12, 2015 applications.","Answer",{"name":115,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":116},"What types of designs can be protected by a design patent?",{"text":117,"@type":113},"Design patents protect the configuration/shape of an article, surface ornamentation, or a combination of shape and surface ornamentation.",{"name":119,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":120},"How is nonobviousness analyzed in design patent cases?",{"text":121,"@type":113},"The analysis follows a two-step process: first identify a single primary reference creating basically the same overall visual appearance, then use related secondary references to modify it so the overall visual appearance matches the claimed design.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":124,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":126,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":128,"site_id":62},648207,1792856871,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":131},{"doc_id":128,"user_id":132,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":133,"doc_module":4,"category_id":39,"category_name":40,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":134,"file_id":135,"file_url":136,"file_type":137,"file_size":138,"view_count":8,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":56,"language":139,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":140,"faqs":141,"seo_title":142,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":143,"read_time":144},962093912154,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_9964176cb1d06d4a9deccf72a44ae3dc","_  \n\n| | Design Patents |  |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Eric E . Johnson [ericejohnson.com](ericejohnson.com) |  | |\n| Konomark Most rights sharable |  |  |\n\nNote: I’ve leaned very heavily on Prof Sarah Burstein’s work in putting together the examples and analysis in this slidedeck.  \n_  \nDesign patent basics  \n• Term:  \n– 14 years from issuance (pre May 13, 2015 applications)  \n– 15 years from issuance (post May 12, 2015 applications)  \n• Design can include configuration/shape of article, surface ornamentation, or a combination of shape and surface ornamentation .  \nDesign patent basics  \n• Claimed with a single claim that references the drawings: “The ornamental design for [the article] as shown .”  \n• Design patent numbers have a “D” prefix.  \n_  \n_  \n_  \nDesign patents compared to utility patents  \n• Design patent is for an “ornamental design”  \n• Utility patent is for a “useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof”  \n• Design patents are much, much easier to get.  \nDesign patents: Source of law  \n• Like utility patents, design patent are exclusively a creature of federal law.  \n• 35 U.S.C. 􀀁􀀁 171-173, with 􀀁􀀁 102, 103, 112, and other sections being applicable as well  \n_  \nDesign patents enabling provision at 􀀁 171  \n• “Whoever invents any new, original, and ornamental design for an article of manufacture may obtain a patent therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements of this title. The provisions of this title relating to patents for inventions shall apply to patents for designs, except as otherwise provided.”  \nDesign patents requirements  \n• novelty ß same as for utility patents  \n• originality  \n• nonobviousness ß not much of a limit  \n• ornamental (not dictated by function)  \n• on a functional article  \n• enabling disclosure  \n_  \n_  \n_  \nNonobviousness in design patents  \n\"[T]he ultimate inquiry under section 103 is whether the claimed design would have been obvious to a designer of ordinary skill who designs articles of the type involved.”  \n– Titan Tire v. Case New Holland, 566 F.3d 1372 (Fed. Cir. 2009)  \n“To answer this question, a court must first determine whether one of ordinary skill would have combined teachings of the prior art to create the same overall visual appearance as the claimed design . That inquiry involves a two-step process .”  \n– MRC Innovations v. Hunter Mfg. , 747 F.3d 1326 (Fed Cir. 2014)  \n(internal quote and cites omitted)  \nNonobviousness in design patents STEP ONE:  \n“First, the court must identify a single reference, a something in existence, the design characteristics of which are basically the same as the claimed design . The 'basically the same' test requires consideration of the visual impression created by the patented design as a whole . ... [T]he trial court judge may determine almost instinctively whether the two designs create basically the same visual impression, but must communicate the reasoning behind that decision .”  \n– MRC Innovations v . Hunter Mfg. , 747 F.3d 1326 (Fed Cir. 2014)  \n(internal quote and cites omitted)  \n_  \nNonobviousness in design patents STEP TWO:  \n“[O]ther secondary references may be used to modify it to create a design that has the same overall visual appearance as the claimed design . These secondary references must be so related to the primary reference that the appearance of certain ornamental features in one would suggest the application of those features to the other .”  \n– MRC Innovations v. Hunter Mfg. , 747 F.3d 1326 (Fed Cir. 2014)  \n(internal quote, brackets and cites omitted)  \n\n| Nonobviousness in design patents STEP TWO:\u003Cbr>“[O]ther secondary references may be used to |\n| --- |\n| modify it to create a design that has the same\u003Cbr>overall visual the claimed design .\u003Cbr>These secondary to\u003Cbr>the primary certain ornamental the application\u003Cbr>– MRC Innovations\u003Cbr>(Fed Cir.\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>“The Federal Circuit hasn’t actually reached the second step of this test ina while. That’s becau","cbCaiixUXD3urb2o","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaiixUXD3urb2o","pdf",721856,"English","# Design patent basics\n## Term and eligible subject matter\n## Claim structure and numbering\n# Design patents compared to utility patents\n# Design patents: Source of law\n# Design patents enabling provision at 171\n# Design patents requirements\n## Novelty, originality, ornamental requirement\n## Enabling disclosure\n# Nonobviousness in design patents\n## Step one: single primary reference\n## Step two: secondary references","[{\"question\":\"What term applies to design patents filed before and after May 13, 2015?\",\"answer\":\"The term is 14 years from issuance for pre–May 13, 2015 applications, and 15 years from issuance for post–May 12, 2015 applications.\"},{\"question\":\"What types of designs can be protected by a design patent?\",\"answer\":\"Design patents protect the configuration/shape of an article, surface ornamentation, or a combination of shape and surface ornamentation.\"},{\"question\":\"How is nonobviousness analyzed in design patent cases?\",\"answer\":\"The analysis follows a two-step process: first identify a single primary reference creating basically the same overall visual appearance, then use related secondary references to modify it so the overall visual appearance matches the claimed design.\"}]","Design Patents - Basics | PDF",1792792672,48]