Can I patent the look of my product?

Sometimes, much of the value of a product lies in its appearance. For example, Apple Computer is well known for designing instantly recognizable and attractive products. If your product has novel visual characteristics, such as a unique configuration, shape, or surface ornamentation, you can file a design patent application. A design patent protects only the appearance of a product. A utility patent may be filed to protect the way a product is used or works. Apple Computer has many design patents on products such as the Powerbook, eMac, and iPod. Design patents may also be filed on computer generated icons, including user interfaces for computer displays. More information on design patents can be found in MPEP 1500.

Posted: 4/15/2005 in:

1 Comment »

  1. […] If the look of a product has changed, a patent can be filed that covers the appearance of the product; this is called a design patent. […]

    Pingback by patentauthority.com » Can I patent a new version of an existing product? — 1/9/2006 @ 10:40 am

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