Lawyers React to U.S. Plans to Strengthen Design Patent Enforcement

Managing Intellectual Property interviewed Finnegan partner Elizabeth Ferrill for her insight into the Counterfeit Seizure Goods Act of 2019. The legislation is designed to allow U.S. Customs and Border Patrol to seize imported goods that infringe design patents, similar to how merchandise that infringes trademarks and copyrights are handled. Beth said, "You need to educate customs about what to look for and who are the likely importers that will be importing these infringing goods." She added, "Companies may want to prosecute design patents with an eye towards protecting their production product because a design patent like that would be easier for customs to enforce.”

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