The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Tuesday released new guidance for determining “obviousness” based on recent Supreme Court precedent. While IP attorneys say there remain open questions about how that precedent will apply to design patents, it should make life easier for utility patent prosecutors and their clients.

The new guidelines will make life easier for patent prosecutors, according to IP attorney Kevin Crosby of Rubin & Rubin in Florida. However, he said, “There’s good news for inventors and bad news.”