What does MPEP 1500 address?

MPEP 1500 specifically addresses Design Patents. This section of the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure outlines the unique requirements, application processes, and examination standards related to design patents. Design patents protect the ornamental design of a functional item, and the guidelines in this section help applicants navigate the legal and procedural aspects of securing such patents.

Design patents are distinct from utility patents, which protect the functional aspects of inventions, and from provisional patents, which are preliminary filings that can lead to a full patent application but do not by themselves confer patent rights. Additionally, trade secrets pertain to confidential business information that is not disclosed to the public and are governed by a different set of legal considerations outside the realm of patent law. Therefore, MPEP 1500's focus on design patents is in alignment with the unique characteristics and legal frameworks that govern this type of intellectual property.