Can you patent an architectural design?

The answer is a resounding YES! Building designs are protectable by both utility patents, which protect the functional aspects of a design, and design patents, which protect to ornamental features of a design. Many architectural firms actively protect their designs, both with utility patents and design patents.

Are architects drawings copyrighted?

The architect who draws the architectural plans is the first owner of copyright in the plans and the building created from them, unless there is agreement to the contrary or they were created during the course of employment.

Can you patent a floor plan?

Yes—using a design patent (which are called registered designs outside the US). Design patents cover the aesthetic non-functional design of an object. In this case, the object may be a building. As long as your design is novel and non-obvious, your design may be (design) patented.

Can you patent a design concept?

If you want to patent a design, you can file a Design Patent Application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Design patents only protect the look of an object. They aren’t the same as utility patents, which cover how objects work and how they’re used.

Are architectural drawings intellectual property?

Architectural ideas are intellectual property just as much as a novel is the intellectual property of its author. … There are two IP protections architects could apply to their work: a copyright and a trademark.

Is copying Architecture illegal?

In 1990, Congress passed the Architectural Works Copyright Protection Act (AWCPA) to protect the intellectual property of architects. … You cannot copyright an idea, only original expressions of that idea. Certain elements of architectural design are so common that they are, by law, unprotected.

Can you patent house designs?

But can you patent a building? The answer is a resounding YES! Building designs are protectable by both utility patents, which protect the functional aspects of a design, and design patents, which protect to ornamental features of a design.

Can I sue my architect for taking too long?

The statute of limitations for suing a construction company or architect is six years. So in the case above, if it is seven years after construction is complete and after you first noticed the leak, then as per Colo. Rev/ Stat§ 13-80-104 you do not have a viable case.

What qualifies for a design patent?

To qualify for a design patent, the subject must be new in the sense that no single, identical design exists in the prior art, it must satisfy the ornamental standards, and it must be original to the inventor or inventors seeking protection.

How can I patent a design for free?

Steps to Filing a Patent Application

1. Keep a Written Record of Your Invention. Record every step of the invention process in a notebook. …
2. Make Sure Your Invention Qualifies for Patent Protection. …
3. Assess the Commercial Potential of Your Invention. …
4. Conduct a Thorough Patent Search. …
5. Prepare and File an Application With the USPTO.

Can I sell my architectural drawings?

Architects and Non-Architects Can Own and Sell House Plans Online. Most would not see this as an investment opportunity but more of a way for an architect to earn supplemental income. … The majority of them sell for over $1000 per set.

How do I protect my architectural drawings?

Best Practices: Protect Your Designs

1. Assert ownership of your work. …
2. Craft clear and detailed agreements with other parties regarding ownership, and put everything in writing. …
3. Don’t infringe on anyone else’s copyright.

How do you protect architectural plans?

Copyright is a legal concept that gives the creator of a work the exclusive right to use that work for a limited time. These rights can be an important mechanism through which architects can protect their designs.