Examples of Design Patent Non-Infringement
John Wilson • April 21, 2020
Examples of Design Patent Non-Infringement
Given the prior art it can often be difficult to tell if a viable claim for design patent infringement can be maintained against manufacturers of similar products.
Test For Design Patent Infringement
The primary test for determining infringement of a design patent was established in the seminal design patent infringement case, Gorham Co. v. White, 81 U.S. 511 (1871). In Gorham, the United States Supreme Court declared that infringement of a design patent occurs if: “in the eye of an ordinary observer, giving such attention as a purchaser usually gives, two designs are substantially the same.” In 2008, a Federal Circuit court held that the “ordinary observer test,” as established in Gorham, is the sole test for determining design patent infringement; however, the determination must be “conducted in light of the prior art.” If a design patent is substantially similar to prior art, then the differences between the design patent and the potentially-infringing products will be accentuated. Therefore, the appropriate test for design patent infringement is whether an ordinary observer would consider two designs substantially the same, considering the prior art.
Design patent infringement is highly contingent on prior art. Therefore, the relevant prior art must be considered when analyzing the viability of claims against potential infringers. 35 U.S.C. §102(b) identifies that prior art may consist of an invention that “was patented or described in a printed publication in this or a foreign country or in public use or on sale in this country, more than one year prior to the date of application for patent in the United States.”
Examples of Design Patent Non-Infringement
Although design patent infringement is determined on a case-by-case basis, examples of prior decisions may be used as a guideline to predict potential outcomes of future design patent infringement cases. The following examples used the “ordinary observer” test to determine that a design patent had been found not too infringe.
The Federal Circuit Court in Richardson found no infringement in a case that involved a tool which combined three tools into one – a hammer, jaw, and crowbar – because the overall appearances of the designs were not substantially the same. Figure 4 displays a side-by-side comparison of the products at issue with the relevant prior art.
Richardson v. Stanley Works 597 F.3d 1288 (Fed. Cir. 2010)
Although the district court in Victor Stanley held that a bench end featuring accentuated curvature to the legs infringed the ‘623 patent, the same court held that another bench end featuring accentuated curvature to the legs did not infringe the ‘623 patent. The latter design featured an oval below the seat, from which the court determined that the bench end created “a different and distinctive look that would not confuse the ordinary observer.” Specifically, the court stated: “[e]ach of the individual ornamental elements may be almost identical in isolation, but the overall impression is aesthetically different.” Figure 5 displays a side-by-side comparison of the products at issue.
Victor Stanley v. Creative Pipe, 2011 LEXIS 112846 (D.Md. 2011)
Although the prior art in Victor Stanley featured a looped arm rest and curved bench legs, both the ‘623 patent and the infringing design featured accentuated curvature of the legs, which was the distinguishing feature of the ‘623 patent and the prior art.
Given the prior art it can often be difficult to tell if a viable claim for design patent infringement can be maintained against manufacturers of similar products.
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