Design Patent Searching.
Design patents protect how a product looks — and most search firms don't touch them. We offer expert manual review of U.S. and worldwide design patents for patentability, invalidity, and freedom to operate.
A Capability Most Firms Don't Offer.
Design patent searching is a fundamentally different discipline from utility patent searching. There are no keyword searches or classification shortcuts — it requires trained eyes manually reviewing design patents image by image. Most search firms don't offer design searching because it demands specialized expertise and access to both U.S. and international design databases. At DeMarco IP, we've built that capability and made it a core part of our service offering.
WHAT WE OFFER
Design Search Services.
Whether you're filing a new design patent, assessing infringement risk, or challenging an existing design registration, we apply the same rigor to design searching that we bring to utility patent work — with the specialized visual analysis that design patents demand.
OUR DELIVERABLE
What You Receive.
Every design search from DeMarco IP is conducted through expert manual review — not automated image searching. Design patents are inherently visual, and our searchers are trained to evaluate ornamental features, design elements, and visual similarities that software simply can't assess. Your report delivers clear, actionable findings tailored to the type of search you need.
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Every design search is conducted by hand — our searchers visually review design patents and registrations image by image to identify the most relevant prior art. This is not a process that can be automated.
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We search across U.S. design patents, European Community designs, WIPO Hague registrations, and country-specific design filings to ensure comprehensive global coverage.
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Whether you need a patentability assessment, an invalidity challenge, or a freedom to operate clearance, the report format and depth of analysis are customized to match the purpose of the engagement.
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Complete transparency into the design classification codes, databases, and visual review strategies used — so you understand exactly how we conducted the search.
Your Search Team.
At DeMarco IP, we want you to know who is doing your search. While one of our Directors is likely handling most of the communication, neither of them is doing all the work — our Directors grind out work product alongside the full team of patent searchers. And at any point during the engagement, you're welcome to speak directly with the searcher working on your project.
HOW IT WORKS
Our Process.
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STEP #1 - Design & Scope Review
You share images, drawings, or product photos of the design in question along with any relevant context — whether you're filing a new design, assessing infringement risk, or challenging an existing registration. We define the scope of the search, including target jurisdictions and the specific design elements to focus on.
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STEP #2 - Manual Visual Search
We assign your project to a searcher experienced in design patent analysis, who conducts a thorough manual review of relevant design databases — examining registrations image by image to identify the closest visual matches. At any point, you're welcome to speak directly with the searcher working on your project.
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STEP #3 - Review & Delivery
We compile the most relevant prior art into a detailed, easy-to-read report, complete with full transparency into our search methodology. Reports are delivered on time and we remain available to discuss results after you and your team have had time to review. Supplemental searching can also be ordered if needed.
Frequently Asked Questions.
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A design patent search identifies existing design patents and registrations that are visually similar to your product's appearance. Unlike utility patent searches that focus on function and technology, design searches are entirely visual — evaluating ornamental features, shape, proportions, and overall aesthetic impression.
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Design patents protect appearance, not function — so there are often no meaningful text descriptions to search against. Finding relevant prior art requires a trained searcher manually reviewing design images, which is why most search firms don't offer this service. It's a specialized skill set.
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We offer design patentability (assessing novelty before filing), design invalidity (finding prior art to challenge an existing registration), and design freedom to operate (clearing your product's appearance before launch). The same rigorous manual review process applies to all three.
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Yes. Our searches include U.S. design patents, European Community designs, WIPO Hague system registrations, and country-specific design filings. Design protection varies significantly by jurisdiction, so global coverage is critical for a complete picture.
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A utility patent protects how something works — its function, structure, or process. A design patent protects how something looks — its ornamental appearance. A product can be covered by both types of patents, and both should be considered in a thorough IP strategy.
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Design searching requires specialized training in visual analysis and access to design-specific databases worldwide. It's labor-intensive manual work that can't be shortcut with keyword searches or automated tools. Most firms don't invest in building that capability — we have.
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Turnaround depends on the scope of the search and the number of jurisdictions covered. We'll provide an estimated timeline when we scope your project and keep you updated throughout.
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Before filing a design patent application (to assess novelty), before launching a product with a distinctive appearance (to clear potential infringement risks), or when you need to challenge an existing design registration in litigation or PTAB proceedings.
READY TO BEGIN?
Start Your Design Today.
Contact us today to scope your project and leverage a capability most search firms simply don't offer.