Can multiple embodiments be included in a single design reissue application?
The inclusion of multiple embodiments in a single design reissue application is generally not permitted. As stated in MPEP 1457: “A design reissue application may not contain more than one embodiment (plural embodiments are not permitted in a design application).” This restriction is important because: Each design patent should protect a single, distinct design Multiple…
Read MoreWhen can multiple embodiments be included in a single design patent application?
Multiple embodiments can be included in a single design patent application only if they are patentably indistinct. The MPEP states: “More than one embodiment of a design may be protected by a single claim. However, such embodiments may be presented only if they involve a single inventive concept according to the nonstatutory double patenting practice…
Read MoreWhat is the main difference between design patent applications and utility patent applications regarding claims?
The main difference is that a design patent application may only have a single claim, while a utility patent application can contain multiple claims. As stated in the MPEP: “Unlike a utility patent application, which can contain plural claims directed to plural inventions, a design patent application may only have a single claim.” This limitation…
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