Friday, July 20, 2012

Design Patents Deserve Some Respect


In the hierarchy of intellectual property rights, the big three are utility patents, trademarks and copyrights.  Design patents, which protect the appearance of a useful article and not its functionality, have long been relegated to second class citizen status in the IP world and are often dismissed as providing scope that is too narrow or providing too little return on investment.  This perception is misplaced and, as demonstrated by recent developments in the ongoing global IP war between Apple and Samsung, design patents and industrial design registrations should be viewed as a valuable additions to an innovator's intellectual property portfolio.

In one ongoing case in Apple and Samsung’s global patent battle,  Apple v. Samsung, 11-CV-1846, N.D. Cal., Apple is asserting seven utility patents and six design patents against several Samsung smartphones and tablets.  Samsung has returned fire with seven of its own utility patents.  Following a preliminary injunction motion, Federal Circuit appeal, and remand, Samsung is now facing a preliminary injunction on its Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet computer.  The preliminary injunction is not based on any of Apple’s utility patents.  Instead, it is based on one of Apple’s design patents that cover ornamental features of its iPad design, D504,889, that is ultimately going to prevent Samsung from selling its popular tablet computer, at least until the issues are finally decided at trial.  

When a company invests in industrial design, succeeds in making a great looking product, and that look is important in the marketplace, design patents can be a powerful tool to help protect that investment.  Design patents are relatively inexpensive to obtain and, if prosecuted thoughtfully, can be obtained with reasonable scope.  Enforcement is also less expensive than utility patent litigation and can be quite effective.  Its time for the poor design patent to get the respect it deserves.

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