Colorado Patent Attorney Mark Trenner answers questions regarding the Apple’s patent issues in China.

Watch 8 minute Video of Interview With Denver Patent Attorney Mark Trenner

colorado patent attorney

Introduction: We are here in Colorado to interview Denver-area patent attorney Mark Trenner. Mark has been practicing as a patent attorney for almost 14 years; the past 9 years at Trenner Law Firm. While his practice focuses primarily on helping small businesses protect their inventions with patents, Trenner Law Firm assists clients in building out all aspects of their intellectual property portfolio, including copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets.

Interviewer: Wall Street Cheat Sheet published an article this month titled “Apple is Not Leaving Patent Matters to Chance Here.” This seems to be an article on patenting in China. What’s your take?

Patent Attorney: The article tells us that Apple was recently awarded 10 new patents in Hong Kong. It appears that these were all design patents. Businesses often overlook the value of design patents, and I’m happy to see that Apple takes design patents seriously.

Interviewer: What is a design patent?

Patent Attorney: In the United States, a design patent protects the unique ornamental appearance of a product, but not the function. Think of a lamp for example. The function of a lamp is to produce light, usually with an electric light bulb. The common electric light bulb that you can buy in your local hardware store can’t be patented. But if you have a unique design for the lamp – maybe the lamp base or the lamp shade – you may be able to apply for a design patent.

For Part 2, see China Patents Q & A – Part 2 of 4

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