Understand how patents work, including how they protect inventions, along with the different types available, and their implications for inventors and businesses.

The USPTO has expanded design patent protection for digital and emerging technologies. Its March 2026 guidance confirms that graphical user interfaces (GUIs), icons, and designs in AR/VR, holograms ...

Suppose you have a design for an ornamental appearance of an article and start producing the article. Subsequently, you receive notice from an owner of a design patent that you are infringing their ...

In today’s competitive market, the visual appeal and unique ornamental design of a product can be as crucial to its success as its name or functionality. Protecting the distinctive look and feel of ...

“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 ...

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 ...

Firms reflect on how they’re managing their design patent practices as brands seek to enforce their rights at the Northern District of Illinois and beyond Design patent litigation has spiked in recent ...

A registered community design, often referred to as an "RCD," is the European equivalent to a U.S. design patent. Similar to a U.S. design patent, an RCD only protects the ornamental or outward ...