37 CFR § 1.84 (q) Lead lines

Lead lines are those lines between the reference characters and the details referred to.

• Lead lines may be straight or curved and should be as short as possible.

• Lead lines must not cross each other.

• They must originate in the immediate proximity of the reference character and extend to the feature indicated.

• Lead lines are required for each reference character except for those which indicate the surface or cross-section on which they are placed. Such a reference character must be underlined to make it clear that a lead line has not been left out by mistake. Example as shown in Fig. 12 and Fig.13, reference number marked with underline 1204.

Photographs instead of drawings

In Japan, applicants can file an application for design registration, attaching photographs, instead of drawings that depict views. In the case of submitting photographs, the method of representing the form is the same as in the case of submitting drawings. In other words, a set of six views must be prepared by taking photographs of those six surfaces in the same way as is seen when depicting a set of six views.

Points to be noted in taking photographs substituted for drawings

(i) It is necessary not to include what does not constitute the design (e.g. the background, shadows that are not shaded, images reflected on the mirror surface).

(ii) In cases where “shades” created by shading that appear on the bumpy surface (please see “2A. 5 (8) “Shades” specifying the surface shape of a three-dimensional object”) seem to be difficult to be distinguished from patterns, applicants need to make a statement about how to distinguish shades from patterns in the column of [Description of the Design].

(iii) To avoid including the background or the surface of the table where the object is put as patterns, etc., applicants need to carefully set up a photographic stage so that patterns, etc. that do not constitute the design may not be shot, by covering the background or the table with the same colour material such as a white or black cloth.

(iv) Please be careful not to photograph by the perspective drawing method, where the front of the object becomes larger and the other end of the object becomes smaller.

Digital photographs that have been manipulated, such as clearing the form, eliminating what does not constitute the design, can also be accepted as photographs (Please note that the form represented by the manipulated photograph data is regarded as the design in the application).

(vi) It is possible to combine photographs and views to prepare a set of six views. In such cases, applicants need to make sure that photographs and drawings are consistent with each other. For example, in cases where, while photographs represent shading related to the gist of the design, drawings represent only the shape, it shall be regarded that the specified form is not represented since photographs and drawings are not consistent with each other. Please note that photographs and drawings must be separated in the application, and the [Document Name] should be “Photographs” and “Drawings,” respectively.

(vii) It is not allowed to incorporate drawn lines into photographs to claim it one photograph. Please note that a drawing created by computer graphics (CG) with photographic data partially incorporated thereinto shall be deemed as a drawing. (Please see “2A. 5 (9) Drawings prepared using computer graphics”)

Source: https://www.jpo.go.jp/e/system/laws/rule/guideline/design/document/h23_zumen_guideline/01.pdf

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