What's wrong with that design patent? It seems both unique and non-obvious to me, if a bit silly. I would be very surprised if its issuance put any existing bun manufacturer into infringement.
"Easy" and "obvious" are very different things. Making a bun in that shape may not be difficult, but presumably no prior art exists — nobody's ever done it before, at least in public. The patentholder is not a patent troll, but an entrepreneur working on international franchising for the 'hamdog' concept. Silly yes, terrible business idea definitely, misuse of the patent system no.
> Making a bun in that shape may not be difficult, but presumably no prior art exists — nobody's ever done it before, at least in public.
There should be a distinction between "trivial, but no one ever wanted to do it" and "wanted, but no one knew how to do it". There is no remotely rational case that granting a patent in the former situation would ever bring any net value to society to offset the cost. (Even just considering the paperwork involved, never mind the cost in liberty from barring everyone else from doing something this obvious without begging for permission.)
