USPTO Pending MPEP Update: Updated Guidance and Examination Instructions for Making a Determination of Obviousness in Designs in Light of LKQ Corp. v. GM Global Technology Operations LLC

Updated Guidance and Examination Instructions for Making a Determination of Obviousness in Designs in Light of LKQ Corp. v. GM Global Technology Operations LLC

BlueIron has reviewed this USPTO publication and cross-referenced the affected BlueIron pages below.

USPTO Source

Memorandum to the Examining Corps | 2024-05-22 | Effective 2024-05-22
USPTO source

MPEP Incorporation Status

USPTO MPEP version: Ninth Edition, Revision 01.2024 (current through 2024-01-31)
BlueIron's Update: 2026-09-26
Mapping basis: USPTO subsequent-publications index and linked source document reviewed by BlueIron

Affected BlueIron Pages

MPEP Sections

• 1504.03

U.S.C. Sections

• 35 U.S.C. 103

C.F.R. Sections

None identified.

Source Review

The USPTO source was reviewed for this pass. No USPTO-stated replacement text for a specific MPEP section was extracted into this article; the affected BlueIron pages above are the current cross-reference targets.

Notes

Source review: the USPTO memorandum updates design-obviousness examination instructions after LKQ. BlueIron cross-references MPEP 1504.03 and 35 U.S.C. 103.

This BlueIron page records the pending USPTO update and cross-references affected BlueIron MPEP, U.S.C., and C.F.R. pages. Official MPEP text remains unchanged until USPTO incorporates the update.