Design Patent Search

A Design Patent protects how a product looks and not how it works. It covers the unique, ornamental appearance of a functional product. 

In India, a Design Patent gives the owner the right to prevent others from copying or selling their design for 15 years from the date of registration.

A Design Patent includes,

A design patent includes the following sections:

• Bibliographic Data: Information like the inventor’s name, filing dates, and ownership details.
• Claim Section: Contains one simple claim describing what is being protected as an ornamental design.
• Description Section: Explains the different views shown in the design drawings.
• Drawings Section: Shows the design with solid lines representing the protected part and broken lines for non-claimed areas.

Best methods to conduct search for Design Patent – 

1. Use Simple and Clear Keywords

To find the right design patents, start by using words from the product description. Thereafter, look for related terms used in the industry or technical documents. It is important to include different spellings or similar words. It is very important to keep checking and improving search terms so one does not miss anything important.

2. Use Patent Categories

Patents are grouped into categories to make searching easier. The Locarno Classification is a common system used worldwide. Some countries, like the United States and Japan, also have their own systems. Using these categories together to find better results is the key for a right Design Patentability search. If there are too many patents in one category then combine it with keywords to narrow down the search.

3. Follow Country-Specific Rules

Different countries have different ways to search for patents. For example, in the United States one can search using keywords, categories, and references in English. In Japan, one can search in Japanese. Knowing the rules in each country helps you get complete and accurate results.

4. Pick the Right Databases

Databases are tools that store patent information. Some databases like Design View cover many countries while others focus on limited areas. No single database has everything; hence, it is advisable to use a mix of free and paid ones. It is best to choose databases based on the countries and designs one is searching for.

5. Checking Utility Patents

Utility patents are for how things work while design patents are for how things look. Utility patents often include drawings that can help with design patent searches. Looking at both types of patents to get a full picture will greatly help not to miss any significant matter.

6. Search in Local Languages

Many patents are not written in English. For example, patents in China or Japan are often in Chinese or Japanese respectively. Using local language words along with English to find these patents can be beneficial. If someone does not know the language then they can use online translation tools like Google Translate to help find the right words.