Это особенность Закона о защите интеллектуальной собственности Италии. Похожий вопрос уже обсуждался: http://www.proz.com/kudoz/italian_to_english/law:_patents_tr... Вкратце: можно защитить полезную модель, модель внешнего вида или дизайн.
In Italy the Law on Industrial Models regulates, on the one hand, utility models and, on the other hand, ornamental models and designs (modelli ornamentali e disegni). The courts have held that, while both require a creative contribution, a utility model renders an existing article more convenient with an innovative idea translated into a particular conformation, arrangement, configuration or combination of parts, while an ornamental model is translated in a particular combination of lines, colours or other features.
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