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I filed a design patent with non-vector drawings and used the document description "Drawings-only black and white line drawings." I rasterized the drawings before filing so they were already in the format the USPTO likes (1 bit black and white monochrome). </div>
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The USPTO entered an exact copy of the drawings I filed in the Supplemental Content tab.</div>
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When the patent was granted, the PTO issued a "SCORE Placeholder Sheet for IFW Content" stating that SCORE contains a "Patent Grant with Color/Grayscale Drawings."</div>
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In SCORE, there is a tab labeled "File type" "US Patent Color"</div>
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<img size="6076" contenttype="image/png" style="max-width: 876px;" data-outlook-trace="F:1|T:1" src="cid:3898320a-f5ea-4613-ba0e-7d2240363a4e"></div>
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In this tab in SCORE, I can download a copy of the patent that is password protected and ostensibly would have had color drawings if I had filed color drawings. It appears that USPTO has implemented color drawings for all design patents. If you file color drawings,
there will be a copy of the design patent in SCORE that includes the color drawings.</div>
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This also means that for each design patent, the granted patent is published electronically in there different formats:</div>
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1. the public pdf version available on PPUBS. This uses the halftone drawings.</div>
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2. the eGrant copy available in Patent Center that includes a signed digital signature but is otherwise unlocked. I'm not sure if this the halftone or original drawings.</div>
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3. the color copy in SCORE that includes copies of the original drawings as uploaded by the applicant including color. The pdf file is locked with password protection and 128-bit encryption (it allows printing, content copying, and content copying for accessibility).</div>
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I suppose the takeaway is that for design patents, go ahead and file in color. The USPTO will issue a copy of the application in SCORE with color drawings (and maybe the eGrant will have color drawings).</div>
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<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "Aptos Serif", Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, serif; color: rgb(31, 56, 100);"><b>Scott Nielson</b></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "Aptos Serif", Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, serif; color: black;">801-660-4400</span></p>
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