PDLP Chapter 89 Applying for a Design Patent
Chapter 89 Applying for a Design Patent
Three days later, Director Li of Chuangxing Industrial Design Company called to say that the sketch of the MP3's appearance design was ready and asked Lin Feng to come over and finalize it.
Lin Feng called and asked Wu Wenjie to go over together.
He was packing his things, just about to leave, when the doorbell rang. He opened the door to find Lin Xiaowen standing there. She was wearing a light blue dress, white stockings, and her hair was down to her shoulders.
"Xiaowen, what brings you here?"
"I'm not working today, so I came to find you. Are you about to leave?"
"Yes, I'm going to the design company to see the design proposal for the new MP3 player."
"Take me with you, I'll give you some advice too." Lin Xiaowen volunteered to go along, looking very excited.
"Sure, let's go take a look together," Lin Feng agreed.
Not long after, Wu Wenjie arrived. The three of them took a taxi together to the city center.
Upon arriving at the Creative Design Company located in the China World Trade Center, Director Li was already waiting in the conference room. After a few pleasantries, he got down to business and turned on the projector.
Three different "mouse" shaped MP3 design sketches appeared on the screen.
Director Li began reporting on the proposals: "Based on the requirements Mr. Lin mentioned last time: cute, approachable, and leaning towards the clever and quick-witted feeling of Jerry from 'Tom and Jerry,' but not too childish, we have come up with three proposals."
He switched between the images, explaining them one by one:
Option A leans towards a cartoonish, chibi style, with a rounded shape and eyes simulated by two large LED lights, resulting in the strongest overall cuteness.
Option B leans more towards anthropomorphism and a fashionable feel. The mouse is standing upright, wearing small headphones, and its tail is curled into a question mark shape, which is more stylish and fun.
Option C strikes a balance between cuteness and realism. The shape is rounded and smooth without being exaggerated, with natural lines for the ears and tail, emphasizing overall harmony and a comfortable grip. We designed four stylish and vibrant color schemes for it.
The three images are displayed side by side.
Lin Feng's first impression upon first glance was that Plan A might be too cartoonish and the target age group might be too young.
Option B is cool, but it doesn't look like an MP3 player; it's more like a small figurine.
Option C is somewhere in between; it looks pleasing to the eye and is also quite unique.
Wu Wenjie stroked his chin and pointed to Option C: "Option C looks more pleasing. But Director Li, that round, plump body, and that upturned tail, the mold must have been expensive, right? And how will the parting line be handled?"
"Boss Wu is a professional." Director Li pulled up the side line drawing of Plan C.
"The rounded shape requires high precision in demolding, but we've assessed it and it's within a reasonable range. We've designed the tail to have a lanyard hole, which is molded in one piece and has internal reinforcing ribs so it doesn't affect strength. We could consider using soft rubber for the ears to increase the tactile contrast, although that would slightly increase the cost."
Lin Feng remained silent, carefully examining the three designs.
A moment later, he turned to Lin Xiaowen, who was engrossed in looking at the design, and asked with a smile, "Xiaowen, which design do you like best?"
"Me?" Lin Xiaowen didn't expect Lin Feng to ask her so suddenly, and then she looked at the three pictures again seriously.
"I think... Option C looks the best. It looks cute and a little playful, and the colors are nice too. The first one looks too much like a child's toy, and the second one... looks a bit strange, not like something that can play music."
Lin Feng nodded and said to Director Li, "Director Li, could you please send me a copy of these three plans, especially the structural breakdown diagram and preliminary cost estimate for Plan C? I need to discuss it with the factory."
He immediately called Mr. Chen, the owner of Xinfeng Electronics Factory.
When Boss Chen heard that the design drawings were ready, he took it very seriously and said he would bring his engineers over immediately.
About an hour later, Boss Chen and Lao Liu, the mold engineer from the factory, arrived at Chuangxing Design Company.
Director Li then went over the three plans in detail again, focusing on explaining the details of Plan C and the possible technological challenges.
Boss Chen and Engineer Liu discussed in hushed tones for a while, pointing and discussing the blueprints.
Mr. Chen turned to Lin Feng: "Mr. Lin, the processing difficulty of option C is the greatest of the three. To achieve a good effect with this rounded curved surface, the mold must be made with great precision, and the polishing requirements are also high."
Furthermore, if the ears are to be made using two-color injection molding with soft rubber, that requires a separate mold, and the junction between the soft and hard rubber is prone to defects during production, making it difficult to control the yield rate.
"How much more will the cost and time increase compared to the conventional approach?" Lin Feng asked directly.
After discussing it further, Boss Chen and Lao Liu gave a figure. The cost of the appearance was nearly 30% higher than that of a regular mold, and the mold-making time would also be about a week longer.
Lin Feng looked at the sketch of Scheme C while quickly calculating in his mind.
Higher costs mean higher prices, or thinner profit margins. But the premium pricing power and brand recognition brought by unique designs are unmatched by generic designs.
Moreover, Lin Xiaowen's choice as a young woman gave him confidence.
"Let's go with Option C," Lin Feng finally decided. "The soft rubber ears option will remain; I can accept the increased cost. However, Boss Chen, Director Li..."
His gaze swept over the two men. "The appearance must be at least 90% consistent with the design drawings. I need to see the best results on the prototype, including details such as seams and color differences. During mold making and trial production, I hope the engineers from both sides can work closely together."
Seeing Lin Feng's resolute attitude, Boss Chen also made up his mind: "Alright! Since President Lin is so optimistic, our factory is willing to put in the effort. Lao Liu, you coordinate well with the engineers at Chuangxing and scrutinize every detail. If we do this job well, it will be a great asset for our factory!"
Director Li also breathed a sigh of relief. The client's approval of their design was the best outcome: "Don't worry, Mr. Lin, we will fully cooperate, and the drawings and process requirements will be detailed today."
Option C was chosen, but the matter wasn't over yet.
Lin Feng added, "Please ask Mr. Li to produce detailed 3D drawings and six-sided engineering drawings as soon as possible. There's one more thing. I need to apply for a design patent for this product. The ownership of intellectual property rights is clearly stated in our previous contract, right?"
"Don't worry about that," Director Li explained. "The design contract clearly states that the copyright and related intellectual property rights of the final design belong to the client, which is you, Mr. Lin. If needed, we can issue a 'Design Deliverables Confirmation' and a 'Declaration of Intellectual Property Ownership'."
"Yes, we need to." Lin Feng nodded. "Also, do you have any familiar agencies you can recommend for patent applications in Shenzhen? They need to be reliable and efficient."
"Yes, yes." Director Li was clearly familiar with the process. "We've worked with several companies before; I'll give you their contact information later. It's best to submit the application before the final drawings are completed, but before the product is publicly released. That's the safest approach."
"Okay, thank you for your help."
By the time the matter was concluded, it was nearly noon.
Lin Feng invited people from Xinfeng Electronics Factory and Chuangxing Industrial Design to dinner.
In the afternoon, after leaving Creative Design, Lin Feng and his team found the patent agency at the address provided by Director Li.
The firm wasn't large, but it looked quite professional.
They were greeted by a manager surnamed Wang, who was in his forties, wore glasses, and spoke clearly and logically.
Lin Feng explained his purpose: he wanted to apply for a patent for the unique appearance of the "Mice Love Rice Commemorative Edition MP3" and also wanted to register "Fengchi Digital" and related trademarks.
Manager Wang inquired about the product details, reviewed the design sketches, and provided a quote and process description.
"For design patents, novelty is the most important factor. Before applying, it is best not to disclose the design in any form, including at trade shows, online promotional images, or even showing detailed design drawings to unrelated third parties."
Lin Feng nodded; he understood the importance of keeping secrets.
Manager Wang added, "Mr. Lin, as long as the application is submitted before your design is made public, there shouldn't be any major problems. We can handle the drafting of the application documents and submit them to the State Intellectual Property Office."
If all goes well, you should receive the acceptance notice within one or two months. With this, you'll have a basis for protecting your rights if someone tries to counterfeit your work. Obtaining the patent certificate generally takes one to one and a half years.
"Trademark registration is also on a first-come, first-served basis. Once you've decided on the category and the design and text you want to register, we can proceed."
Lin Feng listened carefully and then asked, "If we sign the commission agreement today and provide the finalized design drawings, when is the earliest we can submit the application?"
"If all the materials are complete, we can prepare the documents and submit them within three to five business days."
"Okay." Lin Feng made a decisive decision, "I'll entrust your firm with this. We'll handle the design patent and trademark registration together. The design drawings will be provided to you by the day after tomorrow at the latest; they are the finalized production drawings."
After signing the engagement agreement and paying the deposit, Lin Feng felt even more at ease as he walked out of the firm.
Even a shallow legal barrier can sometimes play a crucial role in protecting your rights.