A design patent protects the ornamental, non-functional appearance of a product; in the US it lasts 15 years from grant with no maintenance fees, while the equivalent protection in Europe, a registered design, can last up to 25 years with renewals every five years. Apple's smartphone design patents are a well-known real-world example of this category in action.
We use essential cookies to make our site work. 🍪 With your consent, we may also use non-essential cookies to improve user experience and analyse website traffic. By clicking “Accept,” you agree to our website's cookie use as described in our Cookie Policy. You can change your cookie settings at any time by clicking “Preferences.”
