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This time, we will focus on image designs as examples of design protection. It can be seen that IT...
A new design system started on April 1, 2020, and designs for images, buildings, and interiors can now be protected, and the Japan Patent Office has announced application statistics.
| Images (GUI, icons, etc.) | Architecture | Interior | |
| Number of applications | 1453 | 487 | 319 |
| Number of registrations | 500 | 211 | 89 |
The overwhelming number of applications for images and designs shows that there is a need for applications from users. I think the number of image designs will increase in the future. UI, UX, etc. can be protected with patents, but it is easier to obtain rights for designs than patents, and the cost is lower.
However, if there is a possibility of obtaining a patent, I think it would be better to try patenting it first. This is because even if you cannot obtain a patent, if you make some changes to the patent drawings, you can later change the application to a design.
At our firm, we also propose patent x design> application strategies.
AUTHOR
Takefumi SUGIURA （杉浦 健文）
EVORIX Intellectual Property Law Firm Managing Patent Attorney
Supports clients across IT, manufacturing, startups, fashion, and medical industries, covering patent, trademark, design, and copyright filings through trials and infringement litigation. Specialized in IP strategy for AI, IoT, Web3, and FinTech. Member of the Japan Patent Attorneys Association (JPAA), Asian Patent Attorneys Association (APAA), and Japan Trademark Association (JTA).
