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  1. eHow
  2. Legal
  3. Intellectual Property Law
  4. Design Patent

Design Patent

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  • Patents for Beginners

    A patent is granted to an inventor to protect intellectual property for a limited time by excluding others from making or selling his invention. The inventor must make full disclosure of the invention when the patent is granted. Patent protection is granted through Article 1, Section 8 of the United States Constitution, and is managed through the United States Patent and Trademark Office, or USPTO.

  • MPEP Information on a Disclosure Statement

    An information disclosure statement is an essential piece of the patent process as part of the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP). The disclosure outlines any existing art or background information related to an applicant's patent application. A disclosure statement can influence whether the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office grants a patent.

  • Design Patent & Information Disclosure Statement

    The United States Patent and Trade Office (USPTO) grants design patents to inventors who want to protect the visual aspect of an article to be manufactured. If you designed a furniture or piece of jewelry with a unique look, you can file for a design patent. The protection that you gain prevents others from duplicating, manufacturing and selling your idea for a period of fourteen years. In the United States, an invention disclosure plays a critical role in protecting your rights prior to when you can file a patent.

  • How to Search for Design Patents

    Many people who have a design idea that they feel is completely unique contemplate manufacturing or producing the design, and obtaining a patent for their idea. While many potential inventors do have 100 percent original ideas, other ideas already have a design patent in place. To determine whether your idea is unique or already has a patent, you will need to perform a design patent search.

  • How to Apply for a Design Patent

    Patents are issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office to protect inventors from having their inventions duplicated by others for profit. Patents are classified as three types: utility, plant and design. Design patents, which protect an "ornamental design of a manufacture of article," last 14 years from the date of issuance.

  • Mechanical Patents Vs. Design Patents

    A mechanical patent is a patent for a functional process or product. A design patent, on the other hand, is a patent for a novel design that is nonfunctional.

  • Utility Patents Vs. Design Patents

    A patent is a property right granted by the government to an individual for an invention. Patents are an important protection for those who put hard work and effort into creating. The two main types of patents are a utility patent and a design patent.

  • Design Patent Application

    A design patent is a legal right to have a monopoly on an idea, at least for first 14 years. Patents are issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO). A legal monopoly is a very powerful tool that the PTO does not take lightly. The PTO will analyze your design patent application thoroughly, so you must make sure you provide all the information in a persuasive manner.

  • What Is the Copyright, Designs & Patents Act 1988?

    The Copyright, Designs & Patents Act (the "Act") was enacted by the United Kingdom in 1988 and superseded the Copyright Act of 1956. It also modified pre-existing UK law on Registered Designs, created an unregistered design right, and brought the UK into compliance with several international treaties to which it is signatory. Parts of the Act have since been superseded by subsequent law.

  • How to File a Design Patent Application

    Design patents are for specific items that have some sort of ornamental characteristics, such as jewelry, textiles, toys, furniture and even computer icons. The US Patent Office requires specific and unique actions to file a design patent application that differs from the process for a regular patent.

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