United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States National Archives and Records Administration Office of the Federal Register author aut Government Organization text government publication eng FR Regulatory Information 2026_register executive 2026-03-13 article Notices D09002ee1df4d8a0b D09002ee1df4d8a74 United States Department of Commerce originator org United States Government Agency or Subagency United States United States Patent and Trademark Office originator org United States Government Agency or Subagency The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has recently received feedback that previously-issued guidance may unnecessarily limit flexibility for design applicants in the field of computer-generated interfaces and icons. Upon review, the USPTO has decided to update its guidance for determining whether a design claim including a computer-generated electronic image constitutes statutory subject matter. The USPTO is issuing this updated supplemental guidance to provide design patent applicants with more flexibility in choosing how to present a new, original, and ornamental design for a computer- generated interface or icon when filing a design patent application with the USPTO. 91 FR 12394 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/FR-2026-03-13/2026-04987 2026-04987 fr13mr26-35 3510-16-P Docket No.: PTO-P-2026-0133 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/FR-2026-03-13/2026-04987 https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-03-13/html/2026-04987.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-03-13/pdf/2026-04987.pdf 12 p. 12394 12405 91 FR 12394 Supplemental Guidance for Examination of Design Patent Applications Related to Computer-Generated Interfaces and Icons; Federal Register Vol. 91, Issue NOTICE 2026-04987 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE United States Patent and Trademark Office 2026-03-13 Docket No.: PTO-P-2026-0133 3510-16-P 2026-04987 Examination guidance.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has recently received feedback that previously-issued guidance may unnecessarily limit flexibility for design applicants in the field of computer-generated interfaces and icons. Upon review, the USPTO has decided to update its guidance for determining whether a design claim including a computer-generated electronic image constitutes statutory subject matter. The USPTO is issuing this updated supplemental guidance to provide design patent applicants with more flexibility in choosing how to present a new, original, and ornamental design for a computer- generated interface or icon when filing a design patent application with the USPTO.

This supplemental guidance for examination of design patent applications related to computer-generated interfaces and icons is effective on March 13, 2026 and applies to all design patent applications or proceedings under Chapter 30, 31 or 32 filed before, on or after March 13, 2026. Erin Harriman, Senior Legal Advisor, Office of Patent Legal Administration at (571) 272-7747 or Parikha Solanki, Senior Legal Advisor, Office of Patent Legal Administration, at (571) 272-3248. Guidance Examination of Design Patent Applications Related to Computer-Generated Interfaces and Icons, https://www.regulations.gov/docket/PTO-P-2023-0047/comments https://www.regulations.gov/document/PTO-C-2020-0068-0001/comment www.regulations.gov Vol. 91, no. 49 Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration 2026-03-13 continuing daily deposited born digital 219 p. Table of Contents: AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: KF70.A2 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/FR-2026-03-13 P0b002ee1df4d58fd 0097-6326 0042-1219 0364-1406 769-004-00000-9 000582072 f:fr13mr26 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/FR-2026-03-13 https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-03-13/pdf/FR-2026-03-13.pdf https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-03-13/xml/FR-2026-03-13.xml fdlp 12287 12496 DGPO 2026-03-13 2026-03-13 FR-2026-03-13 machine generated eng FR FR-2026-03-13 91 49