Design Registration

A separate intellectual property right is trade mark "design registration", which allows the outward appearance of a product to be protected. It is a relatively simple procedure and is reasonable priced.

Registered Community Designs:-

It is possible to protect the outward appearance of a product by filing to register a design right. If your product is new, or the design elements of it are new, then you may be able to protect these. In particular they include decorative elements, lines and contours, texture, materials, shape, colours, ornamentation and graphic representations.

Rights can be obtained in the 27 EU countries by a single application.

It is possible to file multiple designs in a single application.

What we need from you

• Details of your design and what it is, for example a graphic design, a toy and so forth.
• Is your design in the public domain and if so when did this occur?
• If not, when do you anticipate exhibiting your design or launching it?
• Have you filed an application already to protect it and if so can you supply details?
• Who owns the design?
• If you commissioned the design, who was the artist?
• Which elements of the design do you wish to protect?
• We will need specific representations of the design and will advise you accordingly.

What happens once your Community design is filed?

• The fees are payable on filing the application.
• The EC Registrar will then undertake a formalities examination.
• Assuming there are no objections the design will be registered.
• It is possible to prevent details of your design being disclosed by deferring its publication for a period of 30 months.
• Once registered, your rights to the design will be Community-wide.

Can third parties object to your design and how?

• Yes, third parties may file an objection.

How long are designs registered for?

• To begin with – 5 years.
• Renewable every 5 years for up to a period of 25 years.

Community Member States

UK Registered Designs

You can protect the outward appearance of a product by filing to register a design right. If your product is new, or the design elements of it are new, then you may be able to protect these. In particular they include decorative elements, lines and contours, texture, materials, shape, colours, ornamentation and graphic representations. You may file multiple designs in a single application.

What we need from you:

• Details of your design and what it is, for example a graphic design, a toy and so forth.
• Specific representations of the design.

Answers to the following:

• Is your design in the public domain and if so when did this occur?
• If not, when do you anticipate exhibiting your design or launching it?
• If you have filed an application already to protect it, we need details
• Who owns the design?
• If you commissioned the design, who was the artist?
• Which elements of the design do you wish to protect?

What happens once your UK design is filed?

• The fees have to be paid when the application is filed.
• Soon after the Registry will undertake a formalities examination.
• Assuming there are no objections, the design will be registered.
• It is possible to prevent details of your design being disclosed by deferring its publication for 12 months.

Can the design be objected to by third parties?

• Yes, third parties may file an objection.

How long are designs registered for?

• To begin with, 5 years.
• Renewable every 5 years for up to a period of 25 years.

Keywords: intellectual property right, design registration, registered community designs, protect the outward appearance of a product, register a design right, registered designs