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ARTICLE · 22 NOVEMBER 2023

USPTO Expands Eligibility For Design Patent Practitioners

Foley & Lardner LLP
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On Wednesday, November 15, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced the implementation of a new design patent practitioner bar.

United StatesIntellectual Property
Kelly L. Beglinger
Kelly L. Beglinger
Alexander Neuworth
Alexander Neuworth
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On Wednesday, November 15, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced the implementation of a new design patent practitioner bar. While the existing patent bar has certain acceptable education criteria focused on engineering and other technical degrees for an individual to qualify to practice before the USPTO in utility, design, and plant patent proceedings, the new design bar will expand the acceptable education criteria for an individual to practice before the USPTO, but only for design patent proceedings.

While there are various categories that a person may satisfy now to be eligible for the existing patent bar, example acceptable degrees include the following:

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