Design Patents FAQs

While not required since the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) conducts one as part of the application examination process, it's always a good idea to conduct a search on your own. One can be done online on the USPTO website or at the USPTO library in person. Because a design patent application's “description” is typically represented in its drawings, keyword searches are typically less effective at finding previously patented designs.

LegalZoom offers a comprehensive patent search service with customized search results that include all relevant prior art in your field of invention.