PART 2 FROM IDEA TO THE OPPORTUNITY
There are also issuance fees, depending on the size of the item. These fees are much lower than for a utility patent.
Traditionally, design patents were thought to be useless because it was so easy to design around the patent. However, there is renewed interest in these patents. Examples are shoe companies such as Reebok and Nike that have become designs. These types of patents are also valuable for businesses that need to protect molded plastic parts, extrusions, and product and container configurations.