Takeaway: Design patents may be a cost effective means of protecting your intellectual property in addition to copyright protection.

In addition to obtaining a copyright on your intellectual property, a design patent may also be available to secure for web designs and computer screen images. Patents protect your intellectual property by creating a short term monopoly for the inventor and are afforded a “presumption of validity” if challenged in court. While utility patents are usually very expensive to obtain, design patents are reasonably affordable and provide a means for further protecting one’s work.