article thumbnail

China’s Rise in U.S. Design Patent System

Patently-O

WIPO administers the WIPO-administered Hague System for the International Registration of Industrial Designs. In 2015, the US linked its design patent system with Hague — this gives U.S. designers easier access to global design rights; and non-U.S. design patent system.

article thumbnail

Guest Post: Design Protection and Functionality: Does the PTO or the Copyright Office Apply a More Rubbery Stamp?

Patently-O

So much so that the post-1902 Act regional circuit design patent cases invalidating design patents on functionality grounds would come out oppositely under the Federal Circuit’s lax standards. In 2015, it sought copyright registration of this useful article as a sculptural work.

Designs 74
Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

TTAB Affirms Section 2(e)(5) Functionality Refusal of Serrated Knife Blade

The TTABlog

Relying on Applicant's own advertising touting the design of its knife blade and its ease of manufacture (yielding lower cost), the Board affirmed Examining Attorney Caroline L. Moran's Section 2(e)(5) functionality refusal of the design of a "serration pattern" on the blade of a knife (shown below). See TTABlog comment below. -

article thumbnail

Registering Product Design and the Functional Limitation

Patently-O

2023) The Timberland Boot trade dress case is pending before the Fourth Circuit, raising some interesting questions about the role of product trade dress vs design patents vs copyright vs utility patents. Timberland boots were first sold in the 1970s with a unique design that quickly resonated with consumers.

Designs 74
article thumbnail

TTAB Reverses Functionality Refusal of Rocking Chair Design But Finds Acquired Distinctiveness Lacking

The TTABlog

Applying the Morton-Norwich factors, and giving some weight to applicant's design patents, the Board concluded that the USPTO failed to make a prima facie case of functionality. JBL pointed to its ownership of seven design patents for rocking chairs of the same or a very similar configuration. pdf here ]. Welch 2023.

Designs 52
article thumbnail

The Design Law Treaty and the Struggle for International Harmonization of Industrial Design Protection

Patently-O

About the Design Law Treaty: At its core, the DLT aims to simplify and harmonize the procedural requirements for obtaining registered industrial design rights across national and regional intellectual property (IP) offices. In the US, these are design patent rights.

Designs 40
article thumbnail

Gema USA, Inc. Sues Former Employee for Alleged Patent & Trademark Infringement

Indiana Intellectual Property Law

The United States Patent and Trademark Office issued Patent Nos. D667,080 , D567,015 , D670,356 , and D670,786 (collectively, the asserted patents) to Gema in 2012. The Design Patents are for a variety of powder guns and spray equipment. Registration No. Registration Date. January 6, 2015.