Designs

Why register a design?

Registered design protection.

Designs

A design in the context of intellectual property relates to the appearance of a product rather than its construction.

The design pages on this site set out what can be protected, how to obtain a registration, and the forms of unregistered design rights in UK, EU and internationally.

If your design is new to the marketplace, it is recommended to obtain a registration to prevent third parties using a similar design and exploiting your rights.

Registered Design Protection

A registered design is a property right protecting the overall visual appearance of a product in a specific geographical area.

The visual appearance can include colours, contours, lines, logos, materials, ornamentation, shape, textiles and texture. It does not protect how the product works, or what it is made from.

To register a design, you must show that the product is new and has individual character:

New - this refers to the novelty of a design. A design is new if no identical or similar products have been disclosed to the public or published before the mark is filed for registration. For a UK registration, novelty refers to disclosure in the European Economic Area (EEA).

Individual Character - the appearance of a design, also called the overall impression, must be different to other designs.

A registered design is a valuable asset, which can be used to prevent others using similar designs within the same geographical area.

Obtain an exclusive right

Prevent copying of your design

Own a valuable asset that can be licensed or assigned