The patent laws provide for the granting of design registration to any person who has invented any new and nonobvious ornamental design for an article of manufacture. The design registration protects only the appearance of an article, but not its structural or functional features. The proceedings relating to granting of design registration are the same as those relating to other patents with a few differences. 　 　A design registration has a term of 15 years from grant, and fees are necessary to maintain a design registration from 4th annual to the end by the pension. If on examination it is determined that an applicant is entitled to a design patent under the law, a notice of allowance will be sent to the applicant or applicant’s attorney, or agent, calling for the payment of an issue fee. 　 　The drawing should clearly depict the appearance, since the drawing defines the scope of patent protection. 　The specification of a design application is short and no claim is neccesary.

Ohashi&Associates excellence experience in advising on the availability, use and registrability of designs and undertake all work necessary to procure registration and maintenance of each right. we provide design services that go beyond that received in mainstream firms, for example, utilizing the availability of associated designs in order to maintain the impregnable design property rights possible.

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