Digital and new technology designs

Digital and new technology designs

The advancement of technology and the related environments in which designs are used—such as computer-generated icons that are integral to the operation of a computer system—has challenged U.S. design patent law in relation to its ability to provide protection for designs in digital and new technology environments. In particular, new designs in the digital economy in the forms of projections, holograms, and virtual and augmented reality (PHVAR), are presenting new challenges and considerations for industrial design protection systems across the globe. Several jurisdictions have recently amended or are now actively considering amendments to their industrial design protection laws and practice to take these advancements in technology into account and to provide more effective protection for these designs.

On December 21, 2020, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) published a Federal Register Notice seeking public input on whether the USPTO’s interpretation of the “article of manufacture” requirement in the United States Code should be revised to protect digital designs that encompass new and emerging technologies. Comments received in response to this notice are available on Regulations.gov. A report summarizing the responses was published by the USPTO in April 2022.

Additionally, the USPTO, working with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Industrial Design Forum (ID5), leads efforts to adapt global practices to accommodate these new technologies and to communicate with stakeholders about U.S. practices. Recent activities and reports include: