A design patent is a form of intellectual property protection that grants the owner exclusive rights to use and profit from a unique and original design for a limited period of time. Design patents are typically used to protect the ornamental design of a functional item, such as the shape or surface pattern of a consumer product.

To obtain a design patent, the design must be new, original, and non-obvious. In the United States, the design must also be a product of the designer’s own creative work and cannot have been previously disclosed or published. Once granted, a design patent provides the owner with the exclusive right to make, use, and sell the design for a period of 15 years from the date of issuance.

One of the key advantages of a design patent is that it provides protection for the aesthetic features of a product, which can be just as important as its functional features in the eyes of consumers. A well-designed product can help to differentiate it from competitors and create a strong brand identity.

However, design patents are not suitable for all types of designs. For example, if the design is purely functional, such as the shape of a car engine, it may not qualify for design patent protection. In this case, a utility patent would be more appropriate.