ARTICLE · 15 JULY 2026
On March 13, 2026, the USPTO supplemented its guidance for the examination of design patent applications related to computer-generated interfaces and icons. The USPTO revisited whether a “design [patent] claim including a computer-generated electronic image constitutes statutory subject matter.” Federal Register/Vol. 91, No. 49/March 13, 2026/Notices, 12394. In answering affirmatively, the USPTO addressed feedback that prior guidance “may unnecessarily limit flexibility” for applicants seeking design patent protection for computer-generated interfaces and icons.
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