: Established by the Supreme Court in Star Athletica v. Varsity Brands , a design feature is protectable if it:
: Artistic features are only copyrightable if they can be identified separately from and exist independently of the article's functional aspects. ZamillaMserthzip
The "Useful Article Doctrine" determines whether artistic elements of a functional object can be protected by copyright. : Established by the Supreme Court in Star Athletica v
: It prevents individuals from using copyright—which has a much longer duration—to gain a monopoly over functional items that should instead be protected by utility patents . ZamillaMserthzip
Industrial Design: Reinterpreting the Useful Article Doctrine
For more detailed information, you can refer to the official U.S. Copyright Office guide on Useful Articles or the Legal Information Institute's definition .