Design Patents

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Design patents are granted for new and original ornamental designs for manufactured objects.

• A design is apparent in appearance
• used to protect the visual appearance of an object
  • E.g., protect the design for china or silverware
• design must be new and different from other designs to be patentable
• granted for 14 years
• design patent is different from a utility patent
  • Design patents protect only the appearance of an article
  • utility patent protects how the article works