An Illinois federal judge recently ruled that a company may have a viable opportunity to challenge two of General Motors Co.’s design patents for fenders. This challenge follows the Federal Circuit’s implementation of more flexible standards in determining the obviousness of design patents. The company had previously succeeded in persuading the Federal Circuit to embrace this updated assessment method. These developments provide a new perspective for assessing the validity of automotive design patents, which could have broader implications for the industry.
More details on this evolving legal situation involving General Motors can be viewed in the comprehensive report on Law360.