外观设计的法律保护

在知识产权的保护对象中 ,外观设计较为特殊。作为一种发明 ,它可以受到专利法的保护 ;作为某种美学思想的表述 ,它可以受到版权法的保护 ;当它在市场上获得显著性或第二含义后 ,又可以作为商标得到商标法的保护 ,或作为商品外观得到反不正当竞争法的保护。外观设计问题涉及专利权、版权法、商标法和反不正当竞争法。外观设计与商品包装外观设计可获得专利法的保护 ,但商品包装只能获得反不正当竞争法的保护 ,不能将二者混为一谈

Design and its Legal Protection

As a subject of intellectual property,design is a special one.While design is an invention in the context of patent law,it is also an expression of aesthetic idea,which falls into the subjects of copyright.After it became distinctive or acquired secondary meaning in the market,it may be protected by trademark law as a trademark,or by unfair competition law as a trade dress. the design concerns patent law,copyright law,trademark law and unfair competition law.A design and a package may be protected by patent law,but the package may only be protected by unfair competition law after it became distinctive in the mardet.