These are three separate and independent avenues of legal protection. One does not preclude the other. Thus, each regime can complement the others to more broadly protect the basic design. Due to the recent guidelines allowing design patents for computer icons, this subject matter may be eligible for this type of three-way protection. This Group has established a goal of a First office action issued within 2-4 months of filing if filed with a complete set of filing documents.
Product designs are important business assets in today's marketplace.
Design patents can play a role in helping to protect competitors from copying these assets. Also of interest is a home page set up to provide IP developments on the subject of industrial design law. 1. Published in IP Today , August 1997.