Registered Design

What is a Registered Design?

With designs you have two types of rights: unregistered and registered.

You don’t have to register a design, but registration gives you added protection. Registering a design will protect the appearance of your products and branding, so the look, shape, configuration or ornamentation of products.

In the UK your rights are protected for up to 25 years once registered. Once registered, it is clear that you own the rights to that design and therefore you no longer need to establish ownership.

Additionally, you’re protected against someone knowingly copying your design, but also against someone unknowingly infringing your design rights.

Search

This is the first step to getting your registered design. Novelty searches are required to ensure your intended design isn’t infringing on any existing registrations and should be done before trying to register your mark.

Register

The next step is to register. Registered designs protect your IP with the option to renew every 5 years for up to 25 years total. Our team are on hand for any and all questions throughout the process.

Watch

Our Watching Searches ensure that any new applications are monitored, and if any pending applications look to be too similar to, copy, or imitate your design, we can notify you and take action in time to prevent a registration from being completed.

A Comprehensive Guide to Registered Designs in the UK

Design innovation is a driving force behind many successful products. From the instantly recognisable shape of a Coca-Cola bottle to the sleek aesthetics of an iPhone, the way a product looks can be just as important as how it functions. In today’s competitive market, businesses must protect their distinctive product designs to maintain an edge.

Protecting a Design

The value of design rights is often underestimated, however, registering design rights can be hugely advantageous. They allow businesses to secure lucrative competitive advantage in crowded markets. The classification system is not present when registering designs as it is with trade marks and currently within the UK, registering design rights are slightly quicker.

We have assisted all industry types in registering their designs from furniture to fashion. For some products, design may be the only distinguishing feature. For this reason, it is important for those businesses that depend upon design to ensure that they have legal protection for the appearance of their products.

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Registered Design FAQs

What is a registered design?

A registered design can be the particular look, shape, configuration or ornamentation of a product(s).

What is the difference between trademark and design registration?

A trade mark registration protects a symbol, word, sound or anything chosen to represent a brand’s identity. In contrast, a design registration focuses on a unique product design which a business will produce.

How much does a registered design cost?

The application fee is dependent on the number of designs included in one application, as it is possible to file a multi-design application in the United Kingdom. A UK design application containing one design costs £300 ex VAT; a UK multi-design application containing up to 10 designs costs £550 ex VAT; and a UK multi-design application containing up to 20 designs costs £750 ex VAT.

How long does a design registration last?

A registered design is renewable every 5 years for a maximum registration period of 25 years.

What is registered design best used for?

A registered design protects the appearance of the whole or a part of a product. This includes features such as the lines, contours, colours, shape, texture or materials of the whole or part of a product or its ornamentation.

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