Automotive Body Parts Ass'n v. Ford Global Technologies, LLC, No. 18-1613 (Fed. Cir. July 11, 2019)

From the Opinion

The passage below is extracted verbatim from the opening of the document. It has not been editorially summarized — consult the full opinion for the court's complete reasoning.

This case involves both differences and similarities be- tween design patents and utility patents. A design patent protects a “new, original and ornamental design for an ar- ticle of manufacture.” 35 U.S.C. § 171(a). While es tab- lished law bars design patents on primarily functional designs for lack of ornamenta lity, utility patents must be functional to be patentable. In many other ways though, design and utility patents are similar.