{"id":22126,"date":"2025-02-18T06:40:39","date_gmt":"2025-02-18T06:40:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.blueoceanglobaltech.com\/blog\/?p=22126"},"modified":"2025-03-04T14:29:18","modified_gmt":"2025-03-04T14:29:18","slug":"how-to-patent-a-design","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.blueoceanglobaltech.com\/blog\/how-to-patent-a-design\/","title":{"rendered":"How to patent a design?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Understanding Design Patent<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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Design Patent v. Utility Patent<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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Patentability and Design Patents<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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Patent Application Process for Designs<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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Design Patent Application Fee<\/a><\/p>\n

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Conclusion
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Frequently asked questions<\/a><\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″ el_id=”rightsection”][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text css=””]Designs are much more than drawings on paper. They can be a part of a brand\u2019s identity. Or, a unique selling point for a product. In short, designs have economic value and need to be protected against duplication. This article solves the mystery of \u2018how to patent a design?\u2019 for newcomers in the field of design commerce.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Understanding Design Patent<\/h2>\n

A manufactured article might have a unique functionality, a distinctive design, or a rare formula that makes it patentable. If an invention has an extraordinary visual appearance, its inventors can protect its unauthorized replication with a design patent.<\/p>\n

Design patents<\/a> cover visual or physical aesthetics that are embodied in or applied to the article of manufacture. Once an inventor receives a patent over their design, they can profit using their exclusive right to determine the duplication. Even the usage or sale of the unique configuration is under the control of the inventor.<\/p>\n

For example, Coca-Cola has a patent over the shape of its glass bottles. The shape of the bottle, even without a label, helps customers to identify the soft-drink with Coca-Cola\u2019s brand. Thus, a design patent allows Coca-Cola to maintain its brand identity in a sea of soft drink brands.<\/p>\n

However, patents are not cheap. Inventors and businesses might get confused between design patents and utility patents, and fumble in the patent application process. This article resolves most asked queries that one might face in the process of filing a patent.<\/p>\n

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Design Patent v. Utility Patent<\/h2>\n

A design patent protects the visual or physical configuration of the article and a utility patent protects the article\u2019s functionality.<\/p>\n

A utility patent<\/a> has a wider scope of protection and can protect more than one characteristic of an article. On the other hand, a design patent can only protect its appearance. However, it is easier and much cheaper to get the latter than the former.<\/p>\n

The application process for a utility patent is more time-consuming and expensive. For utility patents, Inventors need expansive prior art research. Moreover, they have to file uncountable documents to broaden the scope of the patent\u2019s protection. Inventors are still likely to encounter numerous rejections without any guarantee of receiving the patent in the end.<\/p>\n

Contrastingly, design patents may be cheaper and quicker to achieve. Unfortunately, if the design has a functional characteristic, it won\u2019t be protected by it.<\/p>\n

For instance, Coca-Cola owns a design patent for the structure of its glass bottles. But this does not protect the design of their anti-tamper bottle caps. Since the cap\u2019s configuration serves a function, it can only be protected with a utility patent.<\/p>\n

Each product comes with its own set of nuances. It is advisable to consult a patent attorney or expert before initiating the patent application process.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_column_text][\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle”][vc_column_inner width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner el_class=”cta-1-left” width=”2\/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1654853436250{margin-left: 0px !important;padding-top: 20px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;padding-left: 40px !important;background-image: url(https:\/\/www.blueoceanglobaltech.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/background-cta.png?id=13450) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;border-radius: 20px !important;}”][vc_text_separator title=”Related” title_align=”separator_align_left” align=”align_left” color=”custom” border_width=”2″ el_width=”10″ accent_color=”#03315d”][vc_custom_heading text=”Lay Witness Vs Expert Witness” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%2303315d” google_fonts=”font_family:Lato%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:900%20bold%20regular%3A900%3Anormal” css=”” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blueoceanglobaltech.com%2Fblog%2Flay-witness-vs-expert-witness%2F|target:_blank”][vc_btn title=”Read More” style=”custom” custom_background=”#ffffff” custom_text=”#03315d” shape=”square” align=”left” css=”” el_class=”border-btm-btn” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blueoceanglobaltech.com%2Fblog%2Flay-witness-vs-expert-witness%2F|target:_blank”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner el_class=”cta-1-right” width=”1\/6″ css=”.vc_custom_1702390226874{padding-top: 22px !important;padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;padding-left: 40px !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;border-radius: 20px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”22183″ img_size=”750*400″ alignment=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1740037406314{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-right: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;margin-left: 0px !important;padding-top: 15px !important;padding-right: 38px !important;padding-bottom: 15px !important;padding-left: 38px !important;}”][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner el_id=”two”][vc_column_inner][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

Patentability<\/h2>\n

Design patents can be sought for design when:<\/p>\n

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  1. The surface of the article has a unique visual ornamentation or configuration.<\/li>\n
  2. The article itself has a distinctively unique physical shape.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Further, a design must be eligible on the following criteria to receive patent protection:<\/p>\n