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 or a toy.
• 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?
• Have you filed an application already to protect it and if so 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.
• Within a short period of time the UK 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 would need to file cancellation proceedings in order to challenge your rights in the design.

How long are designs registered for?

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