MPEP § 1503 — Elements of a Design Patent Application Filed Under 35 U.S.C. chapter 16 (Annotated Rules)

§1503 Elements of a Design Patent Application Filed Under 35 U.S.C. chapter 16

USPTO MPEP version: BlueIron's Update: 2025-12-31

This page consolidates and annotates all enforceable requirements under MPEP § 1503, including statutory authority, regulatory rules, examiner guidance, and practice notes. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only, it is not legal advice.

Elements of a Design Patent Application Filed Under 35 U.S.C. chapter 16

This section addresses Elements of a Design Patent Application Filed Under 35 U.S.C. chapter 16. Primary authority: 37 CFR 1.154. Contains: 1 requirement and 1 other statement.

Key Rules

Topic

Design Patent Practice

2 rules
StatutoryRequiredAlways
[mpep-1503-38a8ee47715b93b08d5c4c25]
Design Patent Application Requires Utility Patent Elements
Note:
A design patent application must include the essential elements of a utility patent as specified in Chapter 600 and 37 CFR 1.154.

A design patent application has essentially the elements required of an application for a utility patent (see Chapter 600). The arrangement of the elements of a design patent application filed under 35 U.S.C. chapter 16 and the sections of the specification are as specified in 37 CFR 1.154.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.154Design Patent PracticeDesign SpecificationDesign Application Requirements
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-1503-a4d1a7181ef70ef3bee21203]
Claims Must Be In Specific Form For Design Patents
Note:
Design patent applications require claims in a specific form as an essential element.

A claim in a specific form is a necessary element of a design patent application. See MPEP § 1503.01, subsection III.

Jump to MPEP SourceDesign Patent Practice
Topic

Design Specification

1 rules
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-1503-49eb1cd5ea8350cf7204ee8b]
Design Patent Specification Must Follow 37 CFR 1.154
Note:
The design patent application specification must be arranged according to the requirements specified in 37 CFR 1.154.

A design patent application has essentially the elements required of an application for a utility patent (see Chapter 600). The arrangement of the elements of a design patent application filed under 35 U.S.C. chapter 16 and the sections of the specification are as specified in 37 CFR 1.154.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.154Design SpecificationDesign Application RequirementsDesign Patent Practice
Topic

Design Patent Drawings

1 rules
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-1503-c480f3bc144248e3c32ebb47]
Drawings Required for Design Patents
Note:
Design patent applications must include drawings as an essential element.

A drawing is an essential element of a design patent application. See MPEP § 1503.02 for requirements for drawings.

Jump to MPEP SourceDesign Patent DrawingsDesign Patent Practice

Citations

Primary topicCitation
Design Patent Practice
Design Specification
37 CFR § 1.154
Design Patent PracticeMPEP § 1503.01
Design Patent DrawingsMPEP § 1503.02

Source Text from USPTO’s MPEP

This is an exact copy of the MPEP from the USPTO. It is here for your reference to see the section in context.

BlueIron Last Updated: 2025-12-31