The design may cover the whole of a product or only part of it.
There are two requirements.
The design must be embodied in a product. A pattern on its own, or an artistic creation incapable of industrial application, falls outside the scope of protection.
The design must be new. To be valid it must not form part of the prior design; it must differ significantly from prior designs and from combinations of prior design features; and it must not conflict with lawful rights already acquired by another part.
The term is 15 years from the filing date for applications filed on or after June 1, 2021. Applications filed before that date have a 10-year term. Annuities must be paid to keep the patent in force.
