Merchant & Gould hires design patent specialist as partner

The hire expands the firm’s patent prosecution capabilities and aims to meet rising demand for design patents.

Merchant & Gould has hired James Rieke as a new partner in Minneapolis.

Rieke's specialisation in design patents will further strengthen the IP team and expand its capabilities in patent prosecution, said the US firm in a statement.

The past decade has witnessed a surge in demand for design patents, according to the US Patent and Trademark Office.

Rieke commented on this surge, stating: “The increased appreciation of design patents as effective legal tools in the industry, coupled with a rise in visual design filings related to digital environments, is likely driving this growth.”

“For instance, apart from seeking traditional ornamental protection for physical 3D-shaped items, companies are now opting to safeguard digital designs that exist solely on screens, such as interfaces, icons, wait routines, transitions, fonts, and animation sequences,” he continued.