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 Community 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 - see below for details of member states

Can third parties object to your design and how?

• Yes. Third parties would need to file cancellation proceedings in order to challenge your rights in the design.

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