United States patents are categorized according to the idea subject filter previously discussed in the “What is intellectual property?” post. The categories include design patents, utility patents and plant patents.
Design patents protect the ornamental appearance (i.e., the look) of an invention and may include the shape, configuration and surface ornamentation. For example, the rectangular shape of the Apple cell phone is protected by a design patent.
Utility patents protect the functionality of the invention and includes how the invention is used and works without regards to the look of the invention.
Plant patents protect invented or discovered and asexually reproduced distinct and new variety of plants, including cultivated sports, mutants, hybrids, & newly found seedlings, other than a tuber-propagated plant or a plant found in an uncultivated state.
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