One more thought on the new #DesignPatentBar:

I'd like to situate this news in the broader context of what is going on in higher ed. We keep being told that arts (and other types of) education has no practical value, no value for industry. But here, we have the USPTO saying that art education IS important, that it DOES have value.

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USPTO/bulletins/37b1e60

(No, of course this is not the only type of value that matters. But I still think it's notable.)

Got a question from a colleague about why the #DesignPatentBar list includes art education but not art history. Here's what I told her:

I have no idea where this list came from or how it was developed.

If I had to guess, I suspect it is meant to focus on majors that have a significant hands-on, studio element.

Art history majors don’t actually ever have to make any art. And I don’t know the requirements for art education majors, but I’d be surprised if they don’t include studio classes.

How it started ..... How it's going (Patent Bar Edition).

https://www.thefacultylounge.org/2013/10/design-patent-examiners.html

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USPTO/bulletins/37b1e60

#DesignPatents #DesignPatentBar #PatentBar

Some news coverage on the new #DesignPatentBar

- Law360: https://www.law360.com/ip/articles/1767258?nl_pk=fd062d42-234e-4b6a-b9b5-4052fd7ef7ac&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ip&utm_content=2023-11-16&read_main=1&nlsidx=0&nlaidx=0

- BLaw: https://news.bloomberglaw.com/product/blaw/bloomberglawnews/exp/eyJpZCI6IjAwMDAwMThiLWQ0YjUtZGQyOS1hZGZmLWRlYjdhNDk3MDAwMSIsImN0eHQiOiJJUE5XIiwidXVpZCI6ImhSb3I4QVo1MDF3emhSMXlWWk9TOHc9PWFOYzZuRlJtUnNaVDBjSDJRM2lTRUE9PSIsInRpbWUiOiIxNzAwMTM2MjUzMDc1Iiwic2lnIjoiR3B3d25iNTRmUnFFSzFtNW5RM3BoNnAwSmpjPSIsInYiOiIxIn0

#PatentBar #DesignPatents

USPTO announces "the creation and implementation of a design patent practitioner bar" (ht @meredithlowry) https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USPTO/bulletins/37b1e60

Applicants for the new #DesignPatentBar will need to have "have a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate degree in one of the following areas (or its equivalent): industrial design, product design, architecture, applied arts, graphic design, fine/studio arts, or art teacher education."

They will also have to "take and pass the current registration examination."