Design Patent Evolution: From Obscurity to Center Stage

40 Pages Posted: 11 Oct 2016

Date Written: August 1, 2015

Abstract

The recent and ongoing legal sparring between Apple Computer and Samsung focused the attention of both business people and attorneys on the potential value of U.S. design patents. In one dispute, a jury found that some specific Samsung products had infringed several of Apple’s utility and design patents. The jury verdict included substantial damages due to the fact that the appearance of Samsung’s popular Galaxy S4G smartphone infringed one of Apple’s U.S. Design Patents. After the jury awarded over one billion dollars as infringement damages numerous academic programs on design patent law quickly appeared. New scholarship directed to design patents was also published which ended a dearth of academic writing on design patents which extended back several decades. In light of this renewed interest in design patents coupled with recent case law that strengthened design patents by changing the test for infringement, this article examines the history of design patents, the subject matter protected and the judicial treatment of design patents, including limitations on design patent rights and the tests for novelty, non-obviousness and infringement. The existing overlap between design patent law, copyright law and trademark law as well as the ramifications of such overlap will be presented. The effect of recent Supreme Court decisions and the America Invents Act on design patent law will be explored. Finally, whether the fair use doctrine, recognized under both copyright and trademark law, should be extended to design patents will be examined.

Suggested Citation

Beckerman-Rodau, Andrew, Design Patent Evolution: From Obscurity to Center Stage (August 1, 2015). Santa Clara High Technology Law Journal, Vol. 32, 2015, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2850154

Andrew Beckerman-Rodau (Contact Author)

Suffolk University Law School ( email )

120 Tremont Street
Boston, MA 02108-4977
United States
617-573-8557 (Phone)
617-305-3086 (Fax)

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