News & Analysis as of

Utility Patents

Husch Blackwell LLP

Beyond Utility: How to Protect Corporate Value with Design Patents

Husch Blackwell LLP on

Utility patent protection is typically the first thing that comes to mind for protecting a product; however, such protection may not be available when the product has been on the market a long time or is dominated by...more

Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP

The Precedent: Federal Circuit Clarifies Functionality Doctrine in CeramTec v. CoorsTek

In this edition of The Precedent, we outline the recent federal circuit decision in CeramTec v. CoorsTek. ...more

Quarles & Brady LLP

While There is an Active Utility Application, There is Design Hope

Quarles & Brady LLP on

Like many patent owners or aspiring patent owners, at some point you may have found yourself in a situation where design protection was needed, but all you had was narrow utility protection. ...more

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C.

2024 Design Patents Year in Review: Analysis & Trends - Design Patents at the PTAB: 2024 in Review

Inter partes activity involving design patents at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) was relatively low in 2024. The PTAB rendered just two inter partes decisions involving design patents: Next Step Group, Inc. v....more

Farella Braun + Martel LLP

Federal Circuit Notes Patent in Rejecting Trade Dress Protection

As a general rule, in order to be protectable trade dress, a feature of a product, for example, the product's color, must be nonfunctional. That is, the feature must have been an arbitrary choice added to identify the source...more

Rothwell, Figg, Ernst & Manbeck, P.C.

Reviewing 2024's Crucial Patent Law Developments

As 2024 draws to a close, several crucial developments — some aimed at modernizing long-standing legal practices, others addressing emerging challenges — have reached patent law. Originally published in Law360 - December...more

Troutman Pepper Locke

USPTO Fee Changes Taking Effect January 19, 2025‎

Troutman Pepper Locke on

On November 20, 2024, the USPTO published its Final Rule regarding fee changes to take effect on January 19, 2025 in the Federal Register....more

ArentFox Schiff

USPTO Fee Updates

ArentFox Schiff on

The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has finalized its fee schedule for 2025. The updated fee schedule will take effect on January 19, 2025, and will represent a 7.5% across-the-board increase in USPTO fees....more

ArentFox Schiff

Global Perspective on Patenting of AI Technologies

ArentFox Schiff on

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies is fueling a surge in global patent filings for AI-related innovations, but differences in national patent laws and examination standards for such inventions...more

Quarles & Brady LLP

Rocket Docket: Fast Track to Examination

Quarles & Brady LLP on

While obtaining a design patent is often quicker than obtaining a utility patent, current design patent application pendency is often still a lengthy period of time. Based on data released by the USPTO in July 2024 and shown...more

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C.

MarkIt to Market® – September 2024: Expanding Horizons: Potential Expansion of IP Rights for High-THC Cannabis Varieties

In the United States, the intellectual property rights system for plants is multifaceted, encompassing utility patents, plant patents, trademarks, and Plant Variety Protection (PVP) Certificates. These mechanisms offer...more

McDermott Will & Emery

Legal Lens on the Unified Patent Court | August 2024

McDermott Will & Emery on

The Unified Patent Court (UPC) is revolutionizing the way patents are enforced in Europe, and McDermott’s intellectual property team is here to help you navigate this dynamic landscape. Our Legal Lens on the Unified Patent...more

McAfee & Taft

Old test becomes new standard for design patents

McAfee & Taft on

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 your company’s products can...more

Weintraub Tobin

Federal Circuit Changes Obviousness Test For Design Patents

Weintraub Tobin on

In a recent en banc decision, the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals has overruled its prior test for nonobviousness of design patent inventions, holding that design patents are subject to the same test as utility patents. LKQ...more

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C.

Design Patent Trends at the ITC – Mid-Year Update

Ten Section 337 Investigations were terminated in the first half of 2024. Of those ten investigations, two involved design patents. Although those investigations ended with the Commission issuing no remedial orders (including...more

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C.

Five Key Takeaways from the Recent House Judiciary Hearing on AI-Assisted Inventions and Creative Works

As companies—and more recently, courts—have struggled to address the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in innovation, legislators are embroiled in a struggle of their own. Over the past two years, the Senate and House have...more

Ladas & Parry LLP

Proposed Increases of United States Patent Fees

Ladas & Parry LLP on

On April 3, 2024, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued a notice of rulemaking setting out the fees that it proposes for the fiscal year starting on September 29, 2024. Although the proposed fees are...more

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C.

Design Patents vs. Utility Patents: A Unique Advantage in Litigation

Need another reason to secure and enforce design patents? Design patents offer a unique additional remedy in district court litigation: profit disgorgement. While design patent owners may still pursue the traditional remedies...more

Sunstein LLP

Federal Circuit Upends Obviousness Test for Design Patents, Leaving Uncertainty and Potential Opportunity

Sunstein LLP on

On May 21, 2024, the Federal Circuit upended decades of precedent regarding design patents in its decision LKQ Corporation v. GM Global Technology Operations LLC. Sitting en banc, a panel of Federal Circuit judges overturned...more

Strafford

[Webinar] Design Patents Post-LKQ v. GM: Navigating New Obviousness Test for Design Patents - July 10th, 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm EDT

Strafford on

This CLE webinar will guide patent counsel on the Federal Circuit's recent decision in LKQ Corp. v. GM Global Technology Operations L.L.C. (May 21, 2024) and its implications for design patents. The panel will discuss the new...more

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C.

Design Patents at the PTAB: Performance Gap Between Design and Utility Patents Highlights the Durability of Design Patents

Since the inception of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (“PTAB”) in 2012, design patents obtained a higher rate of favorable results in Inter Partes Reviews (“IPRs”) and Post Grant Reviews (“PGRs”) than utility patents. For...more

Irwin IP LLP

After 40 Years, a Fundamental Change to Design Patent Law 

Irwin IP LLP on

LKQ Corp.1 v. GM Global Tech. Operations LLC, No. 21-2348 (Fed. Cir. May 21, 2024) - On May 21, 2024, the Federal Circuit overruled its long-standing Rosen-Durling obviousness test for design patents and replaced it with...more

Venable LLP

Federal Circuit Overrules Obviousness Test for Design Patents and Decades of Precedent

Venable LLP on

A recent en banc Federal Circuit decision overruled the unique test for obviousness of design patents and advised that the same analysis should apply to both utility patents and design patents. LKQ Corporation v. GM Global...more

Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider LLP

Federal Circuit Revamps Obviousness Test for Design Patents

In its recent en banc decision issued in LQK v. GM Global, the Federal Circuit overruled the Rosen-Durling test for design patent obviousness, jettisoning decades-old precedent and loosely outlining a design patent...more

Fitch, Even, Tabin & Flannery LLP

Federal Circuit Overrules Previous Obviousness Rosen-Durling Test for Design Patents

On May 21, the Federal Circuit, in an en banc decision of LKQ Corp. v. GM Global Tech. Operations LLC, has overruled the Rosen-Durling test applied in evaluating obviousness of design patents. Instead, the CAFC applied the...more

242 Results
 / 
View per page
Page: of 10

"My best business intelligence, in one easy email…"

Your first step to building a free, personalized, morning email brief covering pertinent authors and topics on JD Supra:
*By using the service, you signify your acceptance of JD Supra's Privacy Policy.
- hide
- hide