Design Patent Rejection Appeal Services That Actually Make a Difference

October 14, 2025
9:17 am

Getting a rejection letter after months of working on your design patent can feel discouraging. But here’s the truth — it doesn’t have to be the end of your journey. That’s where professional design patent rejection appeal services from amr.co.id come in — guiding inventors and businesses through the complex process of securing fair and successful outcomes.

Why Design Patents Get Rejected More Often Than You Think

Design patents protect the visual appearance of a product, but getting one approved isn’t always straightforward. Many applicants face rejections due to technical or procedural oversights that have little to do with the creativity of the design itself.

Common reasons for rejection include:

Lack of novelty or uniqueness – The design looks too similar to existing ones.
Unclear drawings – The visual claims don’t clearly show what’s being protected.
Priority claim errors – As seen in the In re Floyd case, issues arise when priority from a utility patent isn’t properly supported.
Overlap with previous designs – Even earlier filings by the same applicant can count as prior art.

Sometimes, the problem isn’t your design at all — it’s how the supporting documents are presented. The right legal team can identify what went wrong and how to fix it effectively.

The In re Floyd Lesson Everyone’s Talking About

A great example comes from the In re Floyd case decided in April 2025 by the U.S. Federal Circuit. The inventor, Bonnie Iris Floyd, filed a design patent for a cooling blanket with a specific six-by-five array design. She tried to claim priority from an earlier utility patent that had slightly different configurations.

The issue? The earlier utility application didn’t clearly disclose the exact six-by-five design. Because of this, the appeal board denied the priority claim — and ironically, that same utility patent was used as prior art to reject the design for lack of novelty.

The takeaway here is simple, small drafting differences can have major consequences. This case shows why having experts handle your patent filings and appeals makes all the difference. Professional guidance can mean the difference between a lost opportunity and a successfully registered design.

Understanding the Appeal Process in Plain Terms

So, what happens when your design patent gets rejected? You’re not stuck — you can appeal the decision.

An appeal means formally asking the patent office to review the decision again, with new arguments and stronger evidence. Here’s how it generally works:

File a Notice of Appeal – Inform the office that you intend to challenge the decision.
Prepare Supporting Documents – Include legal arguments, technical evidence, and refined drawings or descriptions.
Submit to the Appeal Authority – In Indonesia, this goes to the Komisi Banding Paten (Patent Appeal Commission). In the U.S., appeals are handled by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB).
Wait for Review and Hearing – The board will re-evaluate your case and issue a new decision.

The principle is universal, you’re asking for a fair second look. And with the right preparation, many applicants succeed on appeal — especially when supported by experienced IP professionals.

How Expert Support Changes the Game

You can technically file an appeal on your own. But in practice? The smallest error in your arguments or drawings can ruin your case.

Here’s why expert assistance is invaluable:

Strategic interpretation of examiner objections – Professionals understand how to reframe and respond effectively.
Technical and legal collaboration – Combining legal reasoning with design or engineering insight strengthens your appeal.
Experience with global systems – Specialists familiar with both local and international appeal processes ensure no procedural mistake goes unnoticed.

Professional design patent rejection appeal services don’t just react to rejections — they build long-term protection strategies for your intellectual property. This includes analyzing prior art, revising drawings, and preparing detailed legal arguments to defend your design.

Lessons You Can Apply Before It’s Too Late

While appealing is possible, prevention is better. You can avoid many design patent rejections by taking proactive steps early on:

Include multiple design variations in your initial application to cover alternative versions.
Ensure high-quality drawings that clearly illustrate the ornamental features.
Seek pre-filing consultations to assess novelty and potential risks.
Avoid unclear priority claims — don’t assume a utility patent automatically supports your design.

If Floyd had included the six-by-five layout from the start, the rejection might never have happened. A bit of foresight at the drafting stage can save months of appeals later.

Why AMR Partnership Is the Go-To for Design Patent Appeals

For nearly four decades, AMR Partnership has been guiding clients in protecting their intellectual property — from design and utility patent filings to appeal processes.

With a professional team and a network of over 1,000 partner firms across 70+ countries, they bring global expertise and local precision to every case. Whether you’re appealing a rejection or strategizing to prevent one, their team ensures your design gets the protection it deserves.

Working with experts like AMR means you gain:

Access to both legal and technical professionals.
A transparent, collaborative approach to appeal preparation.
Proven success in complex and high-stakes IP cases.

Rejection Isn’t the End

Every design has a story — and yours deserves to be recognized. With the right design patent rejection appeal services, a “no” today can become a “yes” tomorrow. Professional support transforms a setback into an opportunity to strengthen your case and secure your creative rights.

If you received a design patent rejection or want to make sure your next filing succeeds, contact our team directly through WhatsApp or Instagram at amr.co.id. Our team tailors pricing based on each case’s complexity, and the initial consultation helps you identify the best path forward with confidence.

Because when it comes to protecting innovation, the right appeal strategy can make all the difference.

For more information about AMR Partnership, feel free to contact us: