MPEP Section 1501, Statutes and Rules Applicable

Executive summary:

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1501 Statutes and Rules Applicable

The right to a patent for a design stems from:

35 U.S.C. 171 Patents for designs.

Whoever invents any new, original and ornamental design for an article of manufacture may obtain a patent therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements of this title.

The provisions of this title relating to patents for inventions shall apply to patents for designs, except as otherwise provided.

37 CFR 1.151 Rules applicable.

The rules relating to applications for patents for other inventions or discoveries are also applicable to applications for patents for designs except as otherwise provided.

37 CFR 1.152-1.155, which relate only to design patents, are reproduced in the sections of this chapter.

It is noted that design patent applications are not included in the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), and the procedures followed for PCT international applications are not to be followed for design patent applications.

The practices set forth in other chapters of this Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP) are to be followed in examining applications for design patents, except as particularly pointed out in the chapter.