The patent — which ensures the design for the Apple Watch cannot be copied by a competitor — was filed in August of last year, just weeks ahead of its unveiling.

The Apple Watch’s design is now officially protected by the US Patent and Trademark Office.

The USPTO on Tuesday issued a design patent on the Apple Watch look and feel. The design patent filing provides precious little information, but includes several sketches showing the device from all angles, including from the top, side and underneath the face where the sensor and charging apparatus sit.

Getting a design patent is an important step in protecting an invention. Apple’s newly delivered patent means other companies cannot copy the design of its wearable. It doesn’t, however, prevent other companies from delivering products that are similar, but not identical in design.

Interestingly, the design patent was filed with the USPTO in August 2014, just weeks before Appleunveiled its smartwatch at an event in September. Likely in an effort to hide its plans, Apple named its patent simply “Electronic device.”
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